Signing of historic US-brokered pact between Rwanda, DRC set for 6 pm

US President Donald Trump is set to welcome Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his DRC counterpart Félix Tshisekedi to the White House ahead of the signing of a major peace and economic cooperation accord.

The East African delegation, led by Kenya’s President William Ruto, arrived in Washington, DC Wednesday.

Ruto has been invited to US by Trump in his capacity as chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit, a role that places him at the center of ongoing regional diplomacy.

Kenya has also played a part in recent efforts to stabilise eastern DRC through the Nairobi peace process.

Kagame and Tshisekedi are expected to hold a brief meeting with Trump before proceeding to the formal signing ceremony, which begins at 6pm with a private welcome event at the White House.

Trump will receive the leaders alongside senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in what Washington insiders are describing as a “high-stakes diplomatic breakthrough.”

The signing itself will take place from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, formerly known as the US Institute of Peace (USIP).

The building was formally renamed Wednesday in preparation for the occasion.

Today’s accord follows a series of agreements the Trump administration has facilitated between Rwanda and the DRC, particularly around economic integration and foreign investment.

The region is home to some of the world’s most sought-after minerals, including cobalt, copper, lithium, coltan and gold, resources central to global technology and energy supply chains.

According to the official programme, the ceremony will underline commitments to a ceasefire, disarmament of armed groups, and guarantees for humanitarian access in conflict-affected areas.

The agreement also outlines plans for economic cooperation, including joint mineral extraction and large-scale infrastructure ventures involving American partners.

Trump is expected to highlight what the White House views as a major success of US mediation. Kagame and Tshisekedi will each issue statements after the signing, followed by a brief press appearance and official photos.

A closed-door working lunch in the State Dining Room will follow, focusing on the implementation timeline.

Discussions are expected to cover the next 90 days, a critical window under earlier frameworks, and the establishment of monitoring mechanisms that may involve observers from the United States or Qatar.

Economic components of the accord will also feature prominently, including incentives linked to US investment in the DRC’s mining sector.

President Ruto is expected to attend as a regional guarantor, with additional leaders anticipated among the witnesses.

Burundi’s Evariste Ndayishimiye is also in US to witness the signing.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni is being represented by vice president Jessica Alupo.

The White House has described the Washington Accord as the most significant US-brokered agreement between Rwanda and the DRC in years, positioning Washington as a central player in future regional stabilisation.