Explainer: How Ruto’s Diplomacy Secured Peace Between DRC and Rwanda

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 5 December 2025 - The historic peace agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington, D.C., in the United States marks a turning point for East and Central Africa, ending decades of hostilities and proving that determined political leadership can resolve even the continent’s most intractable conflicts.

The Washington Agreements have been hailed as the turning point. President William Ruto praised United States President Donald Trump for his crucial intervention, which persuaded DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to see reason and agree to the truce.

"The Washington Accord now stands as the most credible and hopeful pathway to ending three decades of conflict and inaugurating a new chapter of friendship, cooperation, and mutual progress in our region," President Ruto said at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, for his steadfast commitment and decisive leadership in helping bring this historic agreement to fruition."

At the centre of this breakthrough stands Dr Ruto, whose relentless mediation as Chair of the East African Community (EAC) has transformed years of deadlock into a workable framework for lasting peace.

Eastern DRC has endured prolonged suffering from armed groups, ethnic tensions, cross-border incursions, mass displacement, destroyed livelihoods, and a lost generation denied education and opportunity.

The new accord offers the first real hope of ending hostilities, rebuilding trust, restoring social cohesion, and unlocking sustainable development.

President Ruto’s hands-on diplomacy created the conditions for dialogue to succeed, showing that political will, strategic persistence, and deep understanding of regional dynamics can deliver results where previous efforts failed.

Beyond immediate humanitarian relief, the agreement opens major economic dividends.

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Eastern DRC and Rwanda share deep trade, cultural and investment ties that have been strangled by instability.

The accord now paves the way for revived cross-border commerce, stronger regional integration, and joint development projects that will create jobs and raise living standards on both sides.

By framing security and prosperity as inseparable, President Ruto has reinforced a core truth: a stable neighbourhood benefits every EAC member state by reducing conflict spill-over and accelerating collective growth.

While the signing ceremony is a triumph, affected communities remain cautious. True success will depend on rigorous implementation, continuous monitoring, and sustained regional pressure to honour every clause.

"We now call upon all parties to faithfully uphold and implement the terms of the Accord so that the people of Eastern DRC may return to their homes, rebuild their lives, and reclaim the peace, dignity, and hope that have long been denied to them," President Ruto implored both Tshisekedi and Kagame.

Here, President Ruto’s proven commitment to accountability and his vision of an interconnected, prosperous East Africa will remain indispensable.

In leveraging the EAC chairmanship to broker this deal, President Ruto has not only ended one of Africa’s longest conflicts but also set a powerful precedent: visionary leadership, backed by institutional cooperation, can shift entire regions from cycles of violence to shared peace and prosperity.