United States President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Washington on Thursday, where they will sign a peace agreement. According to White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame will put their signatures on a “historic peace and economic” deal brokered by Trump.

The meeting is expected to build on a previous peace deal reached in June, which was signed by the two countries’ foreign ministers, as well as an economic framework agreed upon in November. This upcoming deal will cap months-long diplomatic efforts aimed at securing peace in eastern Congo, a region that has been plagued by conflict for decades.

The Congolese government has stated that its signing of the deal would be contingent upon Rwanda’s withdrawal of support for the M23 rebel group. However, Rwandan President Kagame has accused Congolese authorities of stalling the deal’s final signature. Despite this, Kagame expressed optimism about the upcoming deal, cautioning that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved if “people directly concerned are committed to achieving results.”

In addition to the US-mediated peace process, the DRC is engaged in negotiations with the M23 rebel group in Qatar. The two parties signed a framework for peace in Doha on November 15, building on a previous declaration of principles. This development is seen as a significant step towards ending the fighting in eastern Congo.

The signing of the peace agreement on Thursday is a significant milestone in the efforts to bring peace to the region. The deal is expected to have a positive impact on the economic and security situation in eastern Congo, and is seen as a major achievement for the Trump administration’s diplomatic efforts in Africa. With the international community watching, the success of this agreement will depend on the commitment of all parties involved to implementing its terms and working towards a lasting peace.

Additional sources include Reuters, which has been following the developments in the region closely.