WASHINGTON, the US | Xinhua | The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a comprehensive peace agreement in Washington on Friday, pledging to full more than 30 years of conflict within the Gargantuan Lakes region.
The signing ceremony turned into as soon as attended by U.S. Secretary of Speak Marco Rubio, DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Wagner, and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, alongside with senior officers from the African Union, the Speak of Qatar, and the U.S. Congress.
The agreement outlines commitments to admire territorial integrity, cease hostilities, disengage and disarm military, and conditionally integrate non-reveal armed groups. It also establishes a joint safety coordination mechanism, facilitates the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and ensures humanitarian procure entry to. An annex necessary components an operational thought for the neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), alongside with provisions for Rwanda to steal defensive measures.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nduhungirehe credited Qatar’s mediation for opening the path to the agreement and highlighted regional backing led by the African Union. He said the deal facilities on organising a standing joint safety mechanism and beginning place operations to neutralize the FDLR, which he described as “the remnant of the forces which committed the genocide in opposition to the Tutsi in 1994.” He added that Rwanda would work to make stronger refugee returns in coordination with the Workplace of the United Worldwide locations High Commissioner for Refugees and promote deeper economic cooperation with the DRC and world investors.
Wagner said the agreement marked a turning point from the April Declaration of Guidelines to a concrete thought for peace. She said it affirms a shared responsibility to uphold sovereignty, human rights, and world law, and emphasized the urgency of translating the deal into motion on the bottom. “We, the DRC, will with out a doubt and resolutely conflict for this agreement to be revered — now not with our words but with our deeds,” she said.
Rubio praised both governments and their negotiating groups, calling the agreement “a the largest 2d.” He well-known the US’ role in facilitating the path of and expressed make stronger for its fleshy implementation.
The agreement entered into force straight upon signature. ■
