The announcement was made by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, who represented his government at the signing ceremony in Washington D.C., held in partnership with the United States.

In a statement released by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the signing, the country said the Washington agreement marks “a major step forward in the journey to restore lasting peace, protect civilians and promote wellbeing” in war-affected areas of eastern DRC.

Dr Al Khulaifi stated: “Dialogue is the foundation of lasting peace. Qatar will continue working with regional and international partners to support the implementation of all agreements reached.”

The Washington agreement of 27 June 2025, together with the Doha agreement between DRC and the AFC/M23 of 15 June 2025, reaffirms the route towards restoring state authority, supporting humanitarian operations and assisting the peace process between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 movement.

The signing ceremony was chaired by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, featuring Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

The United States said the agreement opens “a new chapter of cooperation aimed at ending decades of conflict and creating a new foundation for development and partnership.”

The Washington deal provides for the implementation of the peace agreements signed in Washington on 27 June 2025; the establishment of a new regional development platform; increased American private-sector investment and expanded trade in the Great Lakes region; the promotion of sustainable exploitation of DRC’s natural resources; and support for regional peace-building and social programmes.

The initiative is backed by the leaders of Togo, Angola, Kenya, Burundi and Uganda, as well as the African Union, with Qatar and the United States serving as key mediators.

The Washington agreement covers political and economic cooperation between the DRC and Rwanda, while the Doha agreement focuses specifically on the relationship between the Congolese state and the AFC/M23 movement.

In a diplomatic message sent to Qatari media, Dr Al Khulaifi thanked President Trump and U.S. partners “for their determination and commitment to expanding opportunities for peace through dialogue.”

The signing of the Washington agreement is viewed as another step directing the DRC and Rwanda toward a new path of peace and development, with Qatar positioning itself as an influential regional diplomatic actor.

However, the real test will be the implementation phase, which will show whether this renewed international engagement can transform the security and development landscape in eastern DRC, a region that has endured over two decades of conflict.