When will Rwanda's troops leave Congo?

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the close of the Washington Accords signing ceremony between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Hariana Veras, a seasoned African correspondent for the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, posed a critical question to President Donald Trump:

"Mr. President, we are witnessing a historic moment for Africa. But when will we see the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the DRC? Because even now, people are still being killed."

In her question, Veras highlighted the disconnect between diplomatic signatures and facts on the ground: Rwandan troops and M23 proxies continue to occupy parts of eastern Congo, despite the peace deal.

President Trump responded with confidence:

“I think you're going to see [results] very quickly. Very quickly.”

“This was something that many thought was not doable. But I believe it’s going to be a great miracle.”

Calling Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame “great leaders,” Trump expressed full belief that both would deliver on their commitments:

“You're going to see very immediate results. I have confidence that's what's going to happen.”

While the signing of the Washington Accords marks a diplomatic milestone, the situation on the ground tells a more complicated story. Just 24 hours after the agreement, fighting has continued across multiple fronts in South Kivu and North Kivu. Reports confirm that Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are still present, and Rwanda has allegedly reinforced its positions near Kamanyola and Katogota, directly contradicting the spirit of the peace accord.

For many Congolese, particularly in the Kivu provinces, skepticism runs deep. They’ve witnessed Paul Kagame sign peace deals before, in Lusaka (1999), Pretoria (2002), Goma (2009), Nairobi (2013), Luanda (2022), only to violate them within months while denying involvement. The pain of over 10 million deaths, mass displacement, and systematic plundering of Congo’s minerals casts a long shadow over every handshake.

President Tshisekedi may trust the process, but the Congolese people do not trust Kagame. For them, true peace will not come from signatures in Washington, but from Rwanda’s complete military withdrawal, justice for past atrocities, and a clear end to foreign-backed insurgencies in the east. Until then, every promise remains just that, a promise.