The historic accord was signed on Friday in Washington, D.C., with the two nations represented by their respective Foreign Ministers, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe of Rwanda and Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner of the DRC.
The signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump was witnessed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and attended by key international mediators.
President Donald Trump hosted a follow-up presentation of the signed document in the Oval Office, accompanied by Secretary Rubio and Vice President Vance, hailing the occasion as a "glorious triumph" after 30 years of conflict.
In a statement released the same evening, Guterres commended the leadership of the United States, particularly the role of President Trump and the U.S. Department of State, in facilitating the breakthrough, alongside mediation efforts by Qatar and African Union facilitator President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.
He also acknowledged contributions by regional blocs, the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The UN chief urged both nations to fully honour their commitments under the agreement, consistent with the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2773 (2025), which demands a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of diplomatic dialogue.
'The UN, including through its peacekeeping mission MONUSCO, remains fully committed to supporting the implementation of the agreement, in close coordination with the African Union, regional and international partners,' Guterres said.
Coinciding with the signing, the UN Security Council convened on Friday to discuss the situation in the DRC. Bintou Keita, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of MONUSCO, welcomed the accord, describing it as a vital milestone in the quest for peace.
The agreement establishes a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism and outlines steps toward the neutralisation of the FDLR, a rebel group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda has long accused the DRC of supporting the FDLR, while Kinshasa alleges that Kigali backs the M23 rebel movement operating in its eastern provinces. Kigali has repeatedly denied the claims, urging the Kinshasa administration to resolve its internal issues without dragging Rwanda into its affairs.
'The first order of business is to begin implementation of the Concept of Operations for the Neutralisation of FDLR, to be accompanied by a lifting of Rwanda's defensive measures," Minister Nduhungirehe said.
'This is grounded in the commitment made here for an irreversible and verifiable end to state support for FDLR and associated militias. That is the bedrock of peace and security in our region,' he noted.
The peace accord has also been welcomed by the African Union and several countries, including Israel, France, and Qatar, among others.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
