HOPE IS REBORN
My dear compatriots,
I address you with a heart full of hope and a voice carried by the pride of being Congolese.
We stand at a turning point in our history, a moment when the scars of the past can finally begin to heal. On June 27, 2025, at the White House, under the watchful eyes of the United States and with Qatar’s mediation, our nation, the Democratic Republic of Congo, signed a peace agreement with Rwanda. On that day, a light pierced the darkness that has too long enveloped the east of our country.
For over thirty years, eastern DRC has been a land of tears. Our villages have been plundered, our families torn apart, our children robbed of life by conflicts that seemed endless. The M23, backed by Rwanda according to the United Nations and the United States, turned our riches into a curse. Millions of lives lost, millions displaced—this was the legacy we bore. But on June 27, a new page was turned. This agreement is not just a piece of paper. It is a solemn commitment. The DRC and Rwanda have vowed to respect each other’s sovereignty—no more support for armed groups, no more interference in our affairs. Rwanda will withdraw its troops from our soil (euphemistically called “defensive measures”), and together, we will disarm the factions sowing death, such as the M23 and the FDLR. A joint mechanism, backed by the UN and international observers, will monitor our border. Every quarter, public reports will update us on progress. This is a promise of transparency, a promise of peace. But I will not hide the truth: the road ahead is long.
The M23 still holds cities like Goma and Bukavu. They were not at the negotiating table in Washington, and a separate dialogue is underway in Doha. Nothing is guaranteed. And then, there are the dozens of other armed groups lurking in our forests. Peace, my dear compatriots, will not come with a snap of the fingers. It demands courage, patience, and the will of us all. Beneath our feet lies colossal wealth: $24 trillion in minerals—cobalt, copper, lithium, coltan, gold—treasures coveted by the entire world. But until now, these riches have slipped through our fingers, looted in the shadows of conflict, costing us $1 billion annually. This agreement changes the game. The United States wants to invest billions in our mines and roads. They aim to help us build a modern industry, create jobs for our youth, and reduce our dependence on China, which dominates our mining sector today. With Rwanda, we will establish, within 90 days, a shared economic framework. Our minerals will travel legally to global markets, passing through Rwanda if needed, but not exclusively. Roads like the RN2 or the Goma-Bukavu axis will be rehabilitated, connecting our cities and opening access to humanitarian aid. But beware, my brothers and sisters! These promises will only become reality if we take responsibility.
Corruption, the poison that ranks us 154th out of 164 in the 2025 global rule of law index, must be fought. Without this, those billions risk filling the pockets of a handful of elites or foreigners while our children continue to lack everything. We must ensure every Congolese benefits from development. Without security, there is no peace. Without peace, there is no prosperity. This agreement understands that well. The withdrawal of Rwandan troops is a first step, but we will go further. A neutral force could soon secure liberated areas, preventing chaos from filling the void.
With international support, we will reform our security forces to protect our people, not the interests of a few. Yet, challenges remain. The M23 is still a thorn in our side, and the interests of powers like China or Russia could complicate matters. But I believe in us. If we stay united, nothing can stop us. This agreement took effect upon its signing. A joint oversight committee, with the United States, the African Union, and Qatar, will ensure its implementation.
A summit of heads of state will soon reinforce this momentum. But the truth is, it all rests on us. Women, youth, the forgotten in our countryside—you must be at the heart of this process. We must end the plundering and demand justice for the crimes committed. For a peace without justice, my friends, is a peace that crumbles.
Some fear this agreement is merely a smokescreen, a way to legitimize exploitation without healing wounds. I hear them, and their doubts compel us to remain vigilant. But I see in this agreement an opportunity, a springboard for a new Congo. We stand at a crossroads, my dear compatriots. This agreement is a chance to bid farewell to war and misery. It will succeed only if we, Congolese, carry it together—with our neighbors, with the world, but above all, among ourselves. The road will be tough, but our people have survived worse. I believe in our strength.
Together, let us make Congo a land of peace and greatness. May God guide us.
Done in Kinshasa,
June 28, 2025
Eugène Diomi Ndongala,
President of Christian Democracy, DC
Original French Version:
Démocratie Chrétienne, D.C. 