Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo – June 28, 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is trending following the signing of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with Rwanda on June 27, 2025, aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern DRC. The deal, signed in Washington, D.C., by the foreign ministers of both nations, marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough mediated by the United States and Qatar, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio playing key roles. The agreement has drawn widespread attention due to its potential to halt violence that has killed thousands, displaced millions, and fueled a humanitarian crisis in the mineral-rich region.
The conflict, rooted in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, involves the M23 rebel group, which the DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting—a claim Rwanda denies. M23, primarily composed of Congolese Tutsi fighters, has seized major cities like Goma and Bukavu in 2025, exacerbating violence and displacement. The peace deal includes provisions for Rwanda to withdraw its estimated 7,000 troops from eastern DRC within 90 days, the disarmament and integration of non-state armed groups, and the return of refugees and internally displaced persons. It also outlines a regional economic framework to attract Western investment in the DRC’s vast mineral resources, including cobalt, coltan, and lithium, critical for global electronics and electric vehicle industries.
The agreement has sparked mixed reactions. Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner called it a step toward restoring “safety, dignity, and a sense of future,” while Trump hailed it as a “glorious triumph” and a “great day for Africa.” However, skepticism persists. Congolese negotiators initially demanded an immediate Rwandan troop withdrawal, which Rwanda resisted, and the M23-led Alliance Fleuve Congo was not part of the talks, raising doubts about enforcement. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege expressed concerns about the deal’s viability, citing ongoing clashes with M23 and local militias.
Social media, particularly on X, reflects intense discussion. Some posts praise the deal as a historic step, while others highlight the DRC’s ongoing “silent genocide,” with over 7 million displaced and 27.8 million facing food insecurity. Allegations of Rwanda’s covert support for M23 and the DRC’s backing of Hutu-linked FDLR rebels continue to fuel mistrust. The deal’s economic implications, particularly U.S. interest in Congo’s minerals, have also raised concerns about a potential “new scramble” for resources.
Humanitarian challenges remain dire, with reports of summary executions, sexual violence, and forced transfers by M23 in occupied areas. The United Nations has called for increased aid, noting that funding cuts to MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, have limited responses to life-saving emergencies. Meanwhile, parallel talks in Doha between the DRC and M23 suggest further negotiations are needed for lasting peace.
The DRC’s trending status reflects global interest in whether this agreement can end a conflict that has claimed millions of lives and unlock the region’s economic potential, or if it will falter like previous efforts amid complex regional dynamics and competing interests.
