Washington, DC: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed on Friday in the United States capital.
According to African Press Organization, the accord is a significant step towards de-escalation, peace, and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region. The agreement comes as a breakthrough amid a crisis that has seen thousands of civilians killed, hundreds of thousands displaced, and serious human rights violations committed.
The Secretary-General commended the United States for its leadership in facilitating the mediation process, in coordination with Qatar and the African Union Mediator, President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo. He also acknowledged the contributions of the five co-facilitators designated by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He urged the parties to fully honour their commitments under the peace agreement and in line with UN Security Council resolution 2773 (2025), which includes the cessation of hostilities and all other agreed measures. This resolution, unanimously adopted in February, condemned the M23 offensive and called for the DRC and Rwanda to return to diplomatic talks.
The Secretary-General concluded his statement by affirming the UN’s commitment, including through its peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, to support the implementation of the agreement in close coordination with the African Union, regional, and international partners. Coincidentally, the Security Council met on Friday to discuss developments in the DRC, where the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the country and Head of MONUSCO, Bintou Keita, welcomed the peace agreement as a significant step towards ending the conflict.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, echoed this message in a statement on Saturday, expressing that the agreement offers a chance to stop the cycle of violence and displacement and to focus on solutions that restore dignity, stability, and opportunity. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi emphasized that this is a chance to turn the page, ensuring the protection of civilians, including refugees and internally displaced people, and advancing durable solutions that allow them to rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.