Washington: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are due to sign a peace agreement Thursday in Washington, following a long negotiation process initiated with the mediation of Angolan Head of State Joo Lourenço and chairperson of the African Union (AU). The ceremony, considered crucial for the stability of Central Africa, takes place at the United States Institute of Peace and will bring together several international leaders. According to Angola Press News Agency, among those present are President Joo Lourenço and his counterparts from Burundi, Kenya, Togo, and Qatar, as well as the president of the AU Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. The event is sponsored by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who will receive Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Félix Antoine Tshisekedi (DRC) at the White House before the signing of the document. The agreement is intended to formalize the commitment made by the parties to end more than a decade of armed tension in eastern DRC, a country whose authorities accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting M23 rebel elements. It is expected to consolidate the pact reached on June 27 of this year, which has faced delays in its implementation. The participation of President Joo Lourenço is seen by observers as a factor of strong political and diplomatic weight, symbolizing the direct engagement of the AU in promoting peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. Analysts believe that the presence of the Angolan statesman lends greater legitimacy to the process and strengthens African mechanisms for mediation and conflict prevention. The document to be signed contemplates a ceasefire and an end to hostilities between the forces of both countries and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congolese territory, considered by Kinshasa as an essential condition. It also provides for the disarmament of armed groups, including Congolese and foreign militias; the creation of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), responsible for military and border supervisi on and mutual respect for the territorial integrity of the two States. Other points concern the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as initiatives to strengthen economic cooperation and regional integration. The agreement is inspired by the Declaration of Principles signed on April 25, 2025, which served as the basis for subsequent negotiations. Despite diplomatic progress, the process has encountered difficulties. In October, the DRC backed out of signing one of the economic instruments associated with the agreement, citing Rwanda's failure to comply with security measures. International organizations also pointed to the absence of clear accountability mechanisms for war crimes, violence against civilians, and other human rights violations, factors that could undermine the credibility of the process. On the ground, the presence of armed groups and sporadic episodes of violence continue to threaten stability. Distrust between Kinshasa and Kigali remains high, with mutual accusa tions of possible violations of the commitments made. Experts warn that building peace will depend on the effective implementation of agreed measures, the neutralization of armed groups, and the strengthening of humanitarian protection. Diplomats involved in the process say that Thursday's ceremony represents a crucial milestone in revitalizing the June agreement and reaffirming the commitment of the African and international community to stabilizing the region. If rigorously applied, the pact could open a new cycle of cooperation, security, and economic development in the Great Lakes region. The conflict in eastern DRC has left more than seven million internally displaced, according to recent estimates, in addition to thousands dead and wounded in isolated clashes and armed attacks. The humanitarian crisis is severe, with vast areas affected by infrastructure destruction, social vulnerability, and aggravated health risks.