The ceremony, held at the newly inaugurated United States Institute of Peace, brought together US President Donald Trump, President Paul Kagame, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, African leaders, and diplomats from around the world.
The accord formalises commitments first outlined in June, including a permanent ceasefire, disarmament of non-state armed groups, the return of refugees, and mechanisms for accountability for atrocities committed in eastern Congo. Trump hailed the moment as 'a great day for Africa, a great day for the world, and a great day for these two countries.'
But while Thursday's signing was historic, an interview recorded with President Kagame ahead of the signing ceremony offers a deeper and more cautious view of what lies ahead.
Nothing like this before
Speaking to Al Jazeera's Steve Clemons, Kagame said the US-led initiative marked an unprecedented level of focus and political weight behind attempts to resolve the Rwandaâ€"DRC conflict.
'We have never had anything like this, where there is focus, there is attention, to this level, where the two leaders of Rwanda and the DRC meet the President of the United States, who has paid attention to this problem,' Kagame said.
'The visibility, energy, maybe pressure, it has never been like this before.'
For Kagame, the strength of the accord lies in its three-pillar design: political, security, and economic. These components, he said, 'capture everything' required to address the root causes of instability, though implementation remains the difficult part.
Asked what distinguishes the Trump administration's engagement, Kagame contrasted traditional Western rhetoric on democracy and human rights with what he described as Trump's more results-oriented posture.
'You have the theory of democracy, human rights, but in practice, people's lives don't improve,' Kagame argued.
"Then you have the other, which focuses on some tangible things, if it is trade, different economic interests, how they translate into improvements of people's lives, and focusing on the real things... I think, in my personal opinion and experience from our own situation, I prefer the latter."
President Kagame emphasised that African governments must ultimately shoulder responsibility for their own governance and peace, saying he does not want to 'blame others' for Africa's unresolved problems.
He also acknowledged Qatar's role in mediating the conflict, particularly in the dispute between M23 and the DRC government.
Kagame clarified that it was President Tshisekedi, not Rwanda, who requested that aspects of the mediation be moved to Doha.
'People were blaming Rwanda for leaving African initiatives and going to Qatar or Washington. But it was Tshisekedi who initiated that,' Kagame said.
He accused the Congolese leader of hoping to manipulate both the Washington and Doha processes 'in his favour,' but said the separation ultimately sharpened the negotiations.
Kagame credited Qatar for its continued 'availability and resources' in facilitating peace efforts across the region.
Trust, uncertainty, and the 'devil in the details'
With the accord now signed, Clemons pressed Kagame on whether he trusts Tshisekedi to enforce the agreement, given a long history of stalled or reversed commitments.
Kagame was diplomatic but frank: 'First things first, we are here, and we are agreeing to sign. That is important. But we have had experiences where DRC has been reaching an agreement with different parties, including ourselves. And the next day, after agreeing, they are saying the opposite. And it has happened not once, not twice, not three times, but more."
Despite this, Kagame said both the US and Qatar are now invested in monitoring compliance and should be equally vocal if either party deviates from what was agreed.
Minerals, geopolitics, and accusations of blame
The interview also touched on the global scramble for critical minerals, tin, tungsten, tantalum, and lithium, resources that are increasingly strategic to USâ€"China competition.
Kagame dismissed longstanding accusations that Rwanda's exports originate from Congolese smuggling networks, calling them part of an international 'blame game' tied to historical narratives about the region.
'Tungsten, tin, tantalum, all of these exist in Rwanda, and of super quality. What we have has nothing to do with DRC,' Kagame insisted.
He argued that Rwanda's stability and growth have made it a target for simplified narratives that drag the country into their problems for geopolitical ends.
A Nobel Prize for Trump?
When asked whether President Trump or regional leaders deserved consideration for a future Nobel Peace Prize, Kagame brushed off the idea for himself.
'Others could be considered, not myself. I don't think I'm there yet.'
Pressed on Trump, Kagame didn't rule it out.
'Why not? Given what he has done in a short time, trying to stabilise things… But he cannot deliver results alone. If we fail to solve this conflict, you don't blame the one trying to help.'
He added that Trump's focus on outcomes rather than rhetoric gives this mediation a stronger chance of success than past attempts.
Watch the full interview below.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
