In Washington, a historic moment unfolded as President Donald J. Trump presided over the signing of what he called “one of the most important peace agreements anywhere in the world,” bringing together the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to end decades of conflict that has claimed more than ten million lives.

Speaking inside the newly inaugurated Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace used for the first time as a venue for an international peace accord the former U.S. President described the event as a “great day for Africa” and “a great day for the world.” Trump praised the new building as “spectacular,” emphasizing its symbolic significance as a place where two long-time adversaries met to pursue reconciliation.

Trump recounted private discussions held earlier backstage and inside the Oval Office with President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. He described the exchanges as “sad and beautiful,” underscoring the human suffering of a conflict that has torn apart eastern Congo for more than thirty years. He hailed both leaders as courageous men whose decisions would “begin a new era of harmony and cooperation” for their nations.

Dignitaries from across Africa and the Middle East attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Angola, Burundi, and Kenya; the vice-president of Uganda; foreign ministers from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates; the chairman of the African Union Commission; and senior U.S. lawmakers and officials. Trump repeatedly acknowledged their presence, noting their contributions to supporting the agreement.

The pact, formally named the Washington Accords, consolidates commitments first negotiated in June and represents, according to Trump, “the eighth war we have ended in less than one year.” The agreement establishes a permanent ceasefire, the disarmament of armed groups, guarantees for refugees to return home, and mechanisms for justice and accountability for atrocities committed during the conflict.

Trump emphasized that economic cooperation is at the heart of the peace deal. He described the region’s natural resources as “beautiful earth stained with blood” and said the Accords would create a framework for Rwanda and the DRC to integrate their economies instead of fighting. He jokingly told the audience that the two leaders would soon be “hugging, holding hands and taking advantage of the United States economically, like every other country does,” adding that American companies would enter both countries to invest in critical mineral extraction under new bilateral agreements.

The former U.S. president also linked the deal to his administration’s broader national security and economic strategy, highlighting recent trade and mineral agreements with Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, South Korea and others. He described unprecedented levels of foreign investment flowing into the United States, declaring the country “the hottest economy anywhere in the world.”

Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior advisor Mossad Boulos, congressional allies, and officials of the Institute of Peace for their roles in brokering the negotiations. He credited their efforts with making it possible to “heal old wounds and transcend past differences,” allowing Congolese and Rwandan citizens to imagine a future of “dignity, prosperity, and peace.”

As he concluded his remarks, Trump invited President Kagame and President Tshisekedi to address the audience, calling them “heroes within their countries” for their willingness to commit to peace after decades of hostility. He expressed confidence that both leaders would uphold their promises and guide their nations into a new chapter of stability.

The ceremony marked an unprecedented diplomatic moment: Rwanda and the DRC publicly embracing a peace pathway under U.S. mediation, inside a building newly renamed in Trump’s honor. For many observers, the event represents a potential turning point in one of Africa’s deadliest and most persistent conflicts a conflict Trump insisted “today becomes history.”

Washington Accords: Trump Brokers Historic Peace Deal Between Rwanda and DRC After Decades of War