The truce, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump and signed Friday, was hailed by DR Congo’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner as a “huge impetus” for peace. “Washington has stepped off the sidelines,” she said, noting that U.S. diplomatic investment has given the talks unprecedented weight and urgency.

Under the accord, Rwanda effectively agreed to cease backing the M23 rebels, whose fighters have captured swathes of eastern DR Congo since January. The DR Congo, in turn, pledged to implement a regional plan to disarm the FDLR — an ethnic Hutu militia that includes figures linked to the 1994 genocide.

Peace for Minerals: A Transactional Deal

Kayikwamba defended the transactional nature of the deal, which is expected to grant U.S. companies access to DR Congo’s vast resources — including cobalt, copper, lithium, and coltan. “Interest-driven decisions tend to be the most sustainable,” she said, emphasizing U.S. interest in reducing Chinese influence in Congo’s mining sector.

Negotiators are aiming to finalize commercial agreements by the end of July, following the security phase of the deal.

M23 Talks Remain the Key Hurdle

Despite the breakthrough between Kinshasa and Kigali, the future of the M23 — a Tutsi-led armed group with longstanding grievances — remains uncertain. Talks with the group are ongoing in Qatar, and analysts warn that a failure to reach a deal could unravel the broader truce.

Kayikwamba acknowledged this risk, saying “the successes of both processes depend on one another.”

Former President Joseph Kabila dismissed the U.S.-led diplomacy as “diplomatic theatre,” criticizing the absence of key players from the process.

Outlook: Security Before Commerce

The deal has drawn skepticism from some DR Congo watchers who question the lack of guarantees for rebel disarmament. Nonetheless, both Washington and Kinshasa hope the promise of billions in investment — and the formalization of illicit mineral trade — will provide incentives for lasting peace.

“No partner can be an answer to all the challenges,” Kayikwamba said, but added that “a minimum of security” is essential to any future business.