The U.S. capital is preparing for a major diplomatic event this Thursday: the official signing ceremony of the peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.
The event, signaling an attempt to end a conflict spanning more than three decades, will be held in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump and an exceptional delegation of African and Middle Eastern leaders.
The signing ceremony will take place at the United States Institute for Peace (USIP). According to the State Department, ten Heads of State or their representatives have confirmed their participation, underscoring the high strategic importance of this initiative.
In addition to President Trump and the two main protagonists, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, confirmed attendees include leaders from: Angola, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Qatar, and The United Arab Emirates.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is also announced to attend.
Before the official signing ceremony, scheduled between 4:00 and 4:10 PM GMT, Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame will be briefly received at the White House for a trilateral meeting with President Trump. Official statements are expected to be made after the signing of the document at the USIP.
This agreement, which was initially initialed by the foreign ministers of the two countries on June 27, will become formally legally binding upon receiving the presidential signatures. It marks a decisive step toward establishing a lasting framework for stability between the two nations.
Washington considers the document to be a legally binding international instrument and part of a diplomatic initiative led by the Trump administration. This initiative is structured around three core pillars: peace, partnership, and prosperity. The formal ratification by the two presidents under the international gaze is intended to lend significant weight and durability to the commitments made.
DM/ac/fss/abj/APA