Trump made the remarks while hosting Ramaphosa and his delegation, who are in the U.S. to revitalise diplomatic and economic ties with Washington.
In a wide-ranging discussion that touched on regional conflicts, trade, and African development, Trump singled out the Rwandaâ€"DRC peace process as a highlight of his administration's recent diplomatic efforts.
The mediation process is coordinated by Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos.
'Looking very good,' President Trump said. 'I'm hearing phenomenal reports because what I was hearing before was deaths, deaths and chopping of heads off. It was very horrible over there. It was really brave of you [Boulos], to go there. I really appreciate it. It looks like we have something very substantial.'
The U.S.-led mediation has made significant headway in recent months following widespread tensions that escalated after the takeover of large swaths of territory in eastern Congo by the M23 rebels, fighting what they describe as decades of persecution and marginalisation of Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese.
While the Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the M23 rebels, Rwanda denies this, stating that its main concern is the presence of the FDLR militia group, linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and its collaboration with the Congolese army, which poses a security threat along the border with Rwanda.
During the meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Boulos confirmed that Rwanda and the DRC recently signed a declaration of principles and have submitted their respective versions of a peace agreement. A unified draft incorporating both proposals has now been shared with both parties for final review.
'We are in the process of finalising it,' Boulos said. 'A couple of weeks ago, the two parties signed a declaration of principle in which they agreed on the way forward. They have both submitted draft peace agreements, and we have compiled one that incorporates their suggestions. It looks very good.'
The U.S. State Department last week also confirmed that a peace agreement draft had been shared with President Paul Kagame and President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC.
If all parties approve the final version, a landmark signing ceremony is scheduled for June at the White House. Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to attend the event, which will also feature the signing of new economic cooperation deals with the United States.
Before the deal can be finalised, the U.S. has outlined key preconditions, particularly for the DRC. These include disbanding the FDLR militia and enacting governance reforms to ensure a fairer distribution of national resources.
If successful, the agreement could usher in a new era of stability for the long-troubled eastern DRC and boost regional economic integration, with U.S. investments playing a pivotal role.
Trump said his involvement in the conflict was motivated by a desire to save lives, not geopolitical gain.
'I have nothing to do with Rwanda and Congo, but I felt I had a very talented person in this administration, and I sent him there. He did an unbelievable job. He has done the hardest part of the job. I want to save the lives of each and every Africanâ€"if it's in Europe, wherever it may be,' Trump told the delegation.
In typical fashion, Trump also drew parallels to other global conflicts, saying that 'we settled' tensions between India and Pakistan 'in less than two days' through strategic trade diplomacy, while also citing ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
'It's a very small investment for me compared to the consequences," he added.
Ramaphosa hails mediation efforts
President Ramaphosa thanked the U.S. for its role in pushing forward a peaceful resolution, revealing that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had withdrawn its troops from eastern Congo to make way for diplomatic talks.
His visit to Washington comes amid efforts to reset relations between South Africa and the United States, especially in light of recent tensions and controversy over claims of racial violence in South Africa, which saw Trump offer refuge to white farmers fleeing the country.
Despite disagreements during the meeting, particularly when Trump raised long-standing 'white genocide' claims, Ramaphosa expressed satisfaction with the private discussions, calling the visit 'a great success' in opening communication channels and advancing trade opportunities.
Trump's message to Africa
As Africa Day approaches on May 25, President Trump shared a broader message of peace and prosperity for the continent, stating that what he wants to see is peace across Africa.
'What I want is peace. I want to see happiness. I want to see health. You have an incredible land that has tremendous valueâ€"a lot of countries don't have that,' he stated.
"We have settled a war that has been raging for years, Rwanda and the Congo, and I think we have done it."
Wycliffe Nyamasege
