(MENAFN) The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda concluded a peace arrangement on Friday in Washington, aiming to resolve the prolonged strife that has persisted for years in eastern Congo.

This peace accord, facilitated by the United States, is anchored in the essential principles outlined in the Declaration of Principles that both nations endorsed on April 23.

It addresses Congo's major demands, such as the safeguarding of its sovereign borders, the demobilization of armed factions, and the execution of strategies intended to bring enduring peace to the region.

The agreement outlines a halt to hostilities between the two countries' military forces.

Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, serving as Congo’s foreign minister and signatory of the agreement for her nation, praised the initiative. She described it as more than just a diplomatic milestone, calling it a victory for the Congolese population as a whole.

Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, emphasized that the pact stems from the pledge to permanently and verifiably cease governmental assistance to the Rwandan rebel group FDLR and other affiliated militias.

Nevertheless, analysts and Congolese citizens have met the deal with reserved optimism, doubting whether it can truly end a conflict that has resulted in countless civilian deaths and the displacement of millions.

In a statement to a news agency, political commentator Louis Gitinywa, based in Rwanda, remarked that multiple similar accords have been signed in the past, yet none have succeeded in quelling the deep-rooted violence in eastern Congo.

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