US President Donald Trump will host Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi at the White House on Thursday, December 4, to finalize a peace and economic agreement aimed at ending years of conflict in eastern DRC.
The announcement follows preliminary accords signed in June and framework agreements reached in November in Qatar, targeting a resolution to the decade-long insurgency led by the M23 rebel group in North Kivu. The group, primarily composed of ethnic Tutsi and alleged to have received support from Rwanda, has been involved in sporadic but deadly clashes with the DRC government, displacing thousands and causing significant civilian casualties.
While prior agreements covered ceasefire monitoring and prisoner exchanges, key issues remain unresolved, including the reintegration of armed groups, restoration of state authority, economic reforms, delivery of humanitarian aid, and removal of foreign forces.
The DRC has emphasised that any final deal must safeguard the country’s territorial integrity. Despite ongoing violence and open questions, Trump has positioned the forthcoming signing as a major diplomatic achievement, building on his previous mediation efforts in the region.