DR Congo Prime Minister Hails Peace Deal With Rwanda as ‘Historic Step’ Toward Ending Decades of Suffering

Democratic Republic of Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa on Tuesday welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between her country and Rwanda, calling it a sign of hope for ending three decades of war and suffering for the Congolese people.

During a working visit to Japan, Suminwa stated in an official release from her office: “I welcome the signing of this historic agreement for lasting peace. It offers hope for ending the suffering of all my people who have endured the horrors of war for the past three decades.”

Her remarks coincided with the 65th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s independence, a symbolic moment that follows the recent signing of a ceasefire agreement in the country’s eastern region.

After a conflict that began in 1994 and has claimed thousands of lives, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed the peace agreement last Friday during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of both nations—Teresa Kayikwamba Wagner for the DRC and Olivier Andohugirehe for Rwanda.

The agreement marks a historic milestone in the pursuit of peace and prosperity for both nations and the broader Great Lakes region of Africa.