The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace accord in Washington on Thursday, a landmark diplomatic push hosted by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending decades of bloodshed in the Great Lakes region.

For Kenya and the wider East African Community (EAC), the deal presents a pivotal moment. The long-running conflict in eastern DRC has not only created a severe humanitarian crisis with over seven million people displaced, but has also crippled regional trade and tested the bloc's security commitments.

The agreement, formally titled the "Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity," commits both nations to cease hostilities, respect territorial integrity, and disarm non-state armed groups. It specifically calls for Rwanda to withdraw its troops from DRC and for the Congolese government to end its support for the FDLR militia, a group linked to the 1994 genocide. The deal was finalized even as fresh fighting erupted in eastern Congo, highlighting the fragility of the new pact.

A Challenge to Regional Peacemaking?

This US-led initiative emerges alongside, and potentially in competition with, African-led mediation efforts. Kenya has been a central player in the EAC's "Nairobi Process," a dual-track approach launched in April 2022 to find a lasting solution through both political dialogue and military intervention.

The EAC deployed a regional force (EACRF) in November 2022, with Kenyan troops participating, to enforce peace agreements and protect civilians. However, these regional efforts have faced significant challenges, leading the DRC to seek external partners. Analysts are now watching closely to see how this American-brokered accord will integrate with or sideline the existing Nairobi and Luanda peace processes.

The Kenyan Stake

The instability in eastern DRC, a nation that joined the EAC in 2022, has direct consequences for Kenya.

• Economic Impact: The conflict disrupts trade routes vital for Kenyan businesses. The DRC is a significant market, with many Kenyan companies, particularly in the banking sector, having invested heavily. The port of Mombasa is a key corridor for goods destined for eastern Congo.
• Security Concerns: The M23 rebel group, which the UN confirms is backed by Rwanda, has seized significant territory, including major cities like Goma and Bukavu, escalating the humanitarian crisis and regional tensions.
• Diplomatic Standing: Kenya's role as a regional peacemaker and the appointment of former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the EAC's facilitator have positioned Nairobi as a key arbiter in the conflict.

At the Washington ceremony, both DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, who have frequently exchanged sharp accusations, acknowledged the opportunity for a new beginning. President Kagame noted that if the agreement falters, the responsibility would lie with the African leaders themselves, not with the US.

While the Washington deal offers a powerful new framework, its success will be measured not by the signatures on a page, but by the silencing of guns in North and South Kivu. For Kenyans, a stable DRC means safer borders, flourishing trade, and a stronger East African Community. The question that remains is whether this peace, made in America, can hold in the heart of Africa.