Rwandan President Kagame Warns of Fighting Amid US-Backed Congo Peace Deal

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has expressed cautious optimism about a recent U.S.-brokered peace deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aimed at ending decades of conflict in eastern Congo. Kagame praised U.S. mediation efforts, including the involvement of President Donald Trump, but warned that the agreement’s success depends on both parties' good faith, particularly emphasizing that Rwanda will respond firmly if Congo fails to neutralize the FDLR militia or attempts to undermine the deal. The peace agreement includes provisions on territorial integrity, cessation of hostilities, and disarmament of armed groups, but does not directly involve the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, which remains a major factor in the conflict. While Rwanda commits to implementing the deal and withdrawing troops, Kagame made clear that any violations or 'tricks' by Congo would be met with a strong response. The DRC government and M23 have agreed to continue parallel talks in Qatar. Analysts remain skeptical about a quick resolution given the complexity of the conflict and the exclusion of key armed groups from the deal.