US President Donald Trump is hosting Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi today for the signing of a landmark peace and economic cooperation agreement, a culmination of months of high-level negotiations brokered by the United States.
The signing ceremony, officially dubbed the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, begins at 10am EST (6pm EAT in Kampala) with a private welcome ceremony at the United States Institute of Peace building in Washington DC - now renamed after Trump -, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will greet the two African leaders.
According to White House officials, the bilateral greetings are designed to set the tone for a “high-stakes diplomatic breakthrough” in the Great Lakes region.
Ceasefire and Disarmament Commitments
From 10:30am to 11:30am EST (6:30–7:30pm in Kampala), the leaders will convene in the East Room for the formal signing of the agreement, which will be broadcast live.
The accord includes commitments to a ceasefire, disarmament of armed groups, and measures to guarantee humanitarian access in conflict-affected regions.
Economic cooperation is also a key feature, including joint mineral extraction ventures and major infrastructure projects involving US partners.
Eastern DR Congo, long plagued by instability and the activities of over 100 armed groups, holds significant mineral reserves essential for modern technologies, including cobalt and coltan for electric vehicles.
President Trump is expected to highlight the success of American mediation, while Kagame and Tshisekedi will deliver statements underscoring regional reconciliation and economic collaboration.
Closed-Door Working Lunch
Following the signing, a closed-door working lunch is scheduled from 11:30am to 1pm EST (7:30–9pm in Kampala) in the State Dining Room.
Discussions will focus on implementation of the agreement, including a 90-day roadmap agreed upon in prior accords, monitoring mechanisms potentially involving US and Qatari observers, and economic incentives tied to US investment in DR Congo’s mineral sector.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, representing President Yoweri Museveni, along with Kenyan President William Ruto and Burundi’s Évariste Ndayishimiye, are expected to attend as regional guarantors of the deal.
Press Engagements and Side Meetings
From 1pm to 2:30pm EST (9pm–10:30pm EAT), the leaders will hold a press availability alongside White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, followed by joint photo sessions. Delegation leaders will then depart for a series of side engagements in Washington.
Background and Significance
The summit comes amid ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo, where the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group has recently made territorial gains.
The M23, composed mainly of ethnic Tutsis, traces its origins to unresolved tensions following the 1994 Rwandan genocide and has been linked by the UN and rights organisations to the Rwanda Defence Force.
In July, the UN reported that at least 319 civilians were killed in North Kivu by M23 fighters “aided by members of the Rwanda Defence Force.”
Previous preliminary agreements were signed at the White House in June and further framework protocols in Qatar in November, addressing ceasefire monitoring, prisoner exchange, and other key security and humanitarian measures.
Uganda’s participation, through Vice President Alupo, underscores the country’s role as a regional stabiliser and its ongoing commitment to peace and reconstruction efforts in the Great Lakes region.
Analysts note that while the signing marks a historic milestone, the long-term impact will depend on effective implementation, monitoring, and reconciliation on the ground.
The Washington Accords offer a rare opportunity to transform decades of mistrust into concrete collaboration, combining political, security, and economic dimensions in a bid to stabilise one of Africa’s most strategically important and resource-rich regions.