United States go access rare earth minerals for both Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, President Donald Trump announce on Thursday when Presidents Felix Tshisekedi (DRC) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) sign wetin Washington call "permanent ceasefire" agreement for Washington DC.

President Trump wey host the two African leaders talk say the agreement go carry the name "The Washington Accord".

According to Trump, DRC and Rwanda don commit to a "permanent ceasefire", and dem don agree to disarm all "non-state forces".

M23 rebel group, wey DRC dey accuse Rwanda of backing, na one of the many armed groups wey dey operate for the troubled eastern DRC. Rwanda don always deny any link to M23.

Lightning offensive

For early 2025, M23 seize large swathes of territory for eastern DRC inside one quick, sudden attack, and DRC government talk say hundreds of people die, according to their figures.

For him address for Washington DC on Thursday, Trump talk say beside disarmament of "non-state forces", DRC and Rwanda still agree to start programme wey go make refugees from either country return go their homes.

Trump add say people wey commit atrocities for eastern DRC go face justice as part of how dem go implement The Washington Accord.

For him part, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda talk say the signing of the peace agreement mark new era of peace and stability for eastern DRC, which borders Rwanda to the west.

Trump optimistic that truce will hold

DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, on the other hand, talk say him government committed to implement The Washington Accord "with complete sincerity", though Kinshasa go remain "watchful" as the new peace era begin.

President Trump earlier express optimism say the newly found truce go prevail, and he say him notice Presidents Kagame and Tshisekedi approve of each other "a lot."

As part of the US middleman role for the peace process, Trump say America don sign agreements with both DRC and Rwanda to access critical rare-earth minerals wey central for battery production.

According to the US president, the "biggest American companies" go dey sent to both countries to take part for the mining processes.

Devastating conflict

The conflict for eastern DRC don last more than 30 years, and President Trump say that at least 10 million people don lose their lives for the region during that time.

However, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) talk say the death toll lower, they put am for about six million.

The deadly conflict especially dey fuel by never-ending fights over mineral resources.

Eastern DRC, wey UN talk say get more than 100 armed groups, rich for copper, cobalt, tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold, among other important minerals.