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International
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President Donald Trump will host a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in Washington. This agreement aims to end the long-standing conflict in eastern DRC, where fighting has recently intensified between government forces and the M23 rebels, who are suspected of being supported by Rwanda. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, have had a constant exchange of accusations in recent years, each blaming the other for provoking the conflict.
Although the agreement was previously signed by the foreign ministers of both countries, the presence of the leaders at the ceremony does not guarantee peace, considering that the M23 continues to expand. Analysts are skeptical about the effectiveness of this agreement, given that there is no active ceasefire and that the demands for the disarmament of the FDLR group and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops remain major obstacles. Additionally, the DRC has demanded that the M23 relinquish the occupied territories, which the rebels have refused to do so far. The signed agreement anticipates economic cooperation between the two countries, but the DRC has emphasized that it will not advance in this regard until the withdrawal of Rwandan troops.
Although the agreement was previously signed by the foreign ministers of both countries, the presence of the leaders at the ceremony does not guarantee peace, considering that the M23 continues to expand. Analysts are skeptical about the effectiveness of this agreement, given that there is no active ceasefire and that the demands for the disarmament of the FDLR group and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops remain major obstacles. Additionally, the DRC has demanded that the M23 relinquish the occupied territories, which the rebels have refused to do so far. The signed agreement anticipates economic cooperation between the two countries, but the DRC has emphasized that it will not advance in this regard until the withdrawal of Rwandan troops.