Kenyatta Joins Kagame And Tshisekedi For Historic Washington Peace Accords
News Updated: 05 December 2025 12:44 EAT
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta joins Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and DRC’s President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington to sign accords ending decades of conflict and allowing refugees to return home.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday joined Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Félix Tshisekedi in Washington for the signing of landmark accords aimed at ending decades of hostility between the two neighbouring nations. The agreement, brokered with support from the United States, is being hailed as the strongest commitment yet to restoring calm in eastern DRC, a region long plagued by conflict and displacement.
The deal commits both Kigali and Kinshasa to a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of foreign forces from contested areas and the disarmament of non-state armed groups that have fuelled instability for nearly 30 years. Central to the accord is a structured plan allowing millions of refugees and internally displaced persons to return home, pending the establishment of security guarantees on both sides of the border.
Uhuru’s presence at the ceremony underscored Kenya’s longstanding role in regional mediation, having previously hosted peace talks under the Nairobi Process. In his public remarks, he praised the agreement as a turning point for the Great Lakes region and called for unwavering focus on implementation so that “communities that have lived through repeated cycles of violence can finally see lasting peace.”
The Washington signing follows months of diplomatic engagement, including a preliminary framework reached earlier in 2025 and intensified negotiations over troop movements and the dismantling of armed groups. The accord also outlines mechanisms for economic cooperation, ranging from cross-border infrastructure to mineral-resource management, in a bid to stabilise relations and encourage joint development.
While the deal has been widely welcomed, observers caution that the hardest work lies ahead. Persistent fighting in eastern DRC, mistrust between the two governments and the influence of armed militias remain major obstacles to sustainable peace. International partners have urged both sides to honour the commitments in full, warning that only genuine political will can turn the Washington Accords into a durable settlement.
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FELIX MAKONA
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