The U.S.-brokered Washington Accords formalize a permanent ceasefire, disarmament of armed groups, refugee returns, and new economic ties between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The conflict traces back to the 1990s after Rwanda's genocide, when militias crossed borders, leading to millions dead or displaced amid groups like M23 rebels. The signing at the renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace opens doors for U.S. investment in Congo's vital minerals like cobalt and lithium, with leaders expressing hope for lasting stability despite implementation challenges.
