In a moment few thought possible, two Central African nations have walked away from decades of conflict and toward a future of cooperation—courtesy of an unexpected diplomat-in-chief.
President Donald Trump announced a landmark peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, brokered by his administration and signed in the Oval Office with top officials from both nations present.
Breitbart reported that the peace agreement, aimed at ending conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region, was overseen by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It was signed in the White House with dignitaries, including Vice President JD Vance and Senior Adviser for Africa Massad Boulos standing by.
Trump, never one for modesty, called the moment a “glorious triumph” and emphasized that the agreement marked the end of “violence and destruction” across a region where peace had long seemed out of reach. That assessment wasn’t far off the mark—for once, hope feels earned.
While critics love to downplay the former president's achievements, it’s hard to ignore what happened here: a rare and real diplomatic success in a part of the world too often overlooked by Western governments distracted with “equity audits” and pronoun politics.
Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba signed on behalf of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and did not hold back her appreciation. She thanked Trump directly and called the signing “a remarkable milestone.”
In a nudge—and perhaps a veiled reminder that peace requires maintenance—Kayikwamba also urged Trump to stay engaged and keep regional leaders “accountable.” It’s a fair request; after all, accountability is a two-way street, and Trump’s team got this far by making bilateral responsibility a centerpiece.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, echoed the optimism, praising the alliance with the U.S. and highlighting a long-standing pattern of failed agreements. This time, he said, it’s different—because Washington is serious about staying involved.
Nduhungirehe emphasized the need for America’s continuing presence to ensure the agreement does not become another diplomatic footnote. “We believe that with your leadership… we will reach that goal,” he told Trump, signaling Rwanda’s cautious optimism.
Too often, weak leadership yields weak peace deals, so it’s no surprise that this one needed a stronger backbone. Say what you want about Trump, but the man doesn’t do symbolism if it doesn’t produce outcomes.
And this outcome is very real—foreign ministers standing side-by-side in the Oval Office, not some vague UN Zoom call with more platitudes than progress.
To reinforce the commitment, President Trump signed congratulatory letters to both Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi. With good old-fashioned ink and paper diplomacy, Trump invited both men for continued talks at the White House.
The invitation is more than ceremonial. It ensures that the peace deal is not only signed but also shepherded into action with U.S. guidance. Too many peace efforts fall apart because no one bothers to follow up—Trump seems intent on rewriting that script.
This isn’t the administration’s first rodeo on the global stage, either. The deal follows recent ceasefires secured between Iran and Israel, and India and Pakistan—successes that the mainstream media seem oddly reluctant to highlight.
There’s no denying the personal and national cost this conflict has caused. Trump acknowledged the toll it’s taken, calling attention to the lives “displaced” and “lost” over the years of instability in the Great Lakes region.
The fact that two adversaries would even sit at the same table is noteworthy; that they’re doing so under the eye of U.S. leadership signals a major shift. For once, diplomacy isn’t just theater—it’s results-driven government with accountability baked in.