Latest news with #TomFletcher
Japan Today
9 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Today
Congo and Rwanda sign U.S.-mediated peace deal aimed at ending decades of bloody conflict
Residents listen to Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), during his visit to North Kivu's town of Buhumba, Democratic republic of the Congo, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) By CHINEDU ASADU and MATTHEW LEE The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda on Friday signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decadeslong deadly fighting in eastern Congo while helping the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it 'an important moment after 30 years of war.' Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner invoked the millions of victims of the conflict in signing the agreement with Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe. Both of them expressed optimism but also stressed there is still a significant amount of work to do to end the fighting. 'Some wounds will heal, but they will never fully disappear,' Wagner said. 'Those who have suffered the most are watching. They are expecting this agreement to be respected, and we cannot fail them.' 'Shared growth and cross-border cooperation will unlock tangible dividends for both our countries,' Nduhungirehe said. 'We must acknowledge that there is a great deal of uncertainty in our region and beyond, because many previous agreements have not been implemented, and there is no doubt that the road ahead will not be easy. But with the continued support of the United States and other partners, we believe that a turning point has been reached.' All three ministers lauded the support of the Gulf Arab nation of Qatar in facilitating the agreement, which Doha has been working on for months at the request of the U.S. and others. Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump said at a news conference that he was able to broker a deal for 'one of the worst wars anyone's ever seen.' 'I was able to get them together and sell it,' Trump said. 'And not only that, we're getting for the United States a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo.' The deal has been touted as an important step toward peace in the Central African nation of Congo, where conflict with more than 100 armed groups, the most potent backed by Rwanda, has killed millions since the 1990s. It's also at the heart of Trump's push to gain access to critical minerals needed for much of the world's technology at a time when the United States and China are actively competing for influence in Africa. Analysts see the deal as a major turning point but don't believe it will quickly end the fighting. The agreement involves provisions on territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities as well as the disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non-state armed groups. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is the most prominent armed group in the conflict, and its major advance early this year left bodies on the streets. With 7 million people displaced in Congo, the United Nations has called it 'one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.' Congo hopes the U.S. will provide it with the security support needed to fight the rebels and possibly get them to withdraw from the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, and from the entire region where Rwanda is estimated to have up to 4,000 troops. Rwanda has said that it's defending its territorial interests and not supporting M23. M23 rebels have suggested that the agreement won't be binding on them. The rebel group hasn't been directly involved in the planned peace deal, although it has been part of other ongoing peace talks. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance — known by its French acronym AFC — which includes M23, told The Associated Press in March that direct peace talks with Congo can only be held if the country acknowledges their grievances and that 'anything regarding us which are done without us, it's against us.' An M23 spokesman, Oscar Balinda, also echoed those thoughts in an interview with the AP this week, saying the U.S.-facilitated deal doesn't concern the rebels. Rwanda has also been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, a trend analysts say might make it difficult for Rwanda not to be involved in any way in the region. Critical minerals are used in smartphones, advanced fighter jets and much more. A team of U.N. experts alleged in a December report that "fraudulent extraction, trade and export to Rwanda of (Congo) minerals benefited both AFC/M23 and the Rwandan economy.' Rwanda has denied any involvement in Congo's minerals. The deal is also at the heart of the U.S. government's push to counter China in Africa. Chinese companies have been for many years one of the key players in Congo's minerals sector. Chinese cobalt refineries, which account for a majority of the global supply, rely heavily on Congo. Analysts say the U.S. government's commitment might depend on how much access it has to the minerals being discussed under separate negotiations between the American and Congolese government. The mostly untapped minerals are estimated to be worth as much as $24 trillion by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Christian Moleka, a political scientist at the Congolese think tank Dypol, called the deal a 'major turning point' in the decadeslong conflict, but that the signing could "in no way eliminate all the issues of the conflict.' 'The current draft agreement ignores war crimes and justice for victims by imposing a partnership between the victim and the aggressor,' he said. 'This seems like a trigger-happy proposition and cannot establish lasting peace without justice and reparation.' In Congo's North Kivu province, the hardest hit by the fighting, some believe that the peace deal will help resolve the violence, but warn justice must still be served for an enduring peace to take hold. 'I don't think the Americans should be trusted 100%,' said Hope Muhinuka, an activist from the province. 'It is up to us to capitalize on all we have now as an opportunity.' The conflict can be traced to the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, where Hutu militias killed between 500,000 and 1 million ethnic Tutsi, as well as moderate Hutus and Twa, Indigenous people. When Tutsi-led forces fought back, nearly 2 million Hutus crossed into Congo, fearing reprisals. Rwandan authorities have accused the Hutus who fled of participating in the genocide and alleged that elements of the Congolese army protected them. They have argued that the militias formed by a small fraction of the Hutus are a threat to Rwanda's Tutsi population. AP writers Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Justin Kabumba in Goma, Congo, and Ignatius Ssuuna in Kigali, Rwanda, contributed to this report. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Congo and Rwanda will sign a U.S.-mediated peace deal to end the conflict in eastern Congo
Residents listen to Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, during his visit to North Kivu's town of Buhumba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa) DAKAR, Senegal — The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to sign a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long deadly fighting in eastern Congo. The deal, which is due to be signed in Washington on Friday afternoon, would also help the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. The Central African nation of Congo has been ripped apart by conflict with more than 100 armed groups. The most prominent is the M23 rebel group, backed by neighbouring Rwanda, whose major advance early this year left bodies littered on the streets. With seven million people displaced in Congo, the United Nations has called it 'one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.' Lauded by U.S. President Donald Trump last week as 'a Great Day for Africa and ... for the World,' the crucial deal comes as part of other ongoing peace talks to end the conflict, including ones mediated by the African Union and Qatar. The agreement involves provisions on respect for territorial integrity, a prohibition of hostilities as well as the disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non-state armed groups, U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott told reporters on Thursday. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric also said on Thursday that such a deal is welcomed, adding: 'We talk almost every day about … the horrific suffering of civilians, the hunger, the sexual violence, the constant fear, the constant displacement' in eastern Congo. Peace deal not likely to quickly end the conflict Congo hopes the U.S. will provide it with the security support needed to fight the rebels and possibly get them to withdraw from the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, and from the entire region where Rwanda is estimated to have up to 4,000 troops. Rwanda has said that it's defending its territorial interests and not supporting M23. But M23 rebels have suggested that the agreement won't be binding on them. The rebel group hasn't been directly involved in the planned peace deal, although it has been part of other ongoing peace talks. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Congo River Alliance — known by its French acronym AFC — that includes M23, told The Associated Press in March that direct peace talks with Congo can only be held if the country acknowledges their grievances and that 'anything regarding us which are done without us, it's against us.' An M23 spokesman, Oscar Balinda, also echoed those thoughts in an interview with the AP this week, saying the U.S.-facilitated deal doesn't concern the rebels. Rwanda has also been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, a trend analysts say might make it difficult for Rwanda to not be involved in any way in the region. A team of UN experts alleged in a December report that 'fraudulent extraction, trade and export to Rwanda of (Congo) minerals benefited both AFC/M23 and the Rwandan economy.' Rwanda has denied any involvement in Congo's minerals. The deal is also at the heart of the U.S. government's push to counter China in Africa. Chinese companies have been for many years one of the key players in Congo's minerals sector. Chinese cobalt refineries, which account for a majority of the global supply, rely heavily on Congo. U.S. role in ending the conflict Analysts say the U.S. government's commitment might depend on how much access it has to the minerals being discussed under separate negotiations between the American and Congolese government. The mostly untapped minerals — estimated to be worth as much as US$24 trillion by the U.S. Department of Commerce — are critical to much of the world's technology. Christian Moleka, a political scientist at the Congolese think tank Dypol, called the planned deal a 'major turning point' in the decades-long conflict, but that the signing could 'in no way eliminate all the issues of the conflict.' 'The current draft agreement ignores war crimes and justice for victims by imposing a partnership between the victim and the aggressor,' he said. 'This seems like a trigger-happy proposition and cannot establish lasting peace without justice and reparation.' In Congo's North Kivu province, the hardest hit by the fighting, some believe that the peace deal will help resolve the violence, but warn justice must still be served for an enduring peace to take hold. 'I don't think the Americans should be trusted 100 per cent,' said Hope Muhinuka, an activist from the province. 'It is up to us to capitalize on all we have now as an opportunity.' ___ Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Justin Kabumba in Goma, Congo, Ignatius Ssuuna in Kigali, Rwanda, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. Chinedu Asadu, The Associated Press
Zawya
a day ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo): Conflict survivors ‘have been through hell,' says UN aid chief
Speaking from the Goma region, whose main city was overrun by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in January, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher explained that people had suffered 'decades of trauma'. The last few months have been 'particularly horrific for so many', he added, referring to the lawless fall-out from heavy fighting this year between the rebel fighters and the regular DRC army that has been linked to serious human rights abuses, including potential war crimes. 'Most striking today and yesterday has been the stories of sexual violence, and sitting with women who tell horrific stories which are too horrific for me to tell here and who are trying to find the courage to rebuild their lives,' the UN relief chief said. 'We're there providing that support to them, trying to help them rebuild, but they have been through hell.' Peace call All those newly displaced by the M23 rebel advance are in addition to the five million people already living in displacement camps in eastern DRC. Today, more than 20 million people need relief assistance. 'They are desperate for this conflict to end,' Mr. Fletcher continued. A day after NATO Member States agreed to a five per cent increase in funding for their collective defence, investment in the humanitarian work of the UN and its partners is at rock bottom. In DRC, a full 70 per cent of UN aid programmes was historically funded by the United States – 'amazing generosity over decades' – Mr. Fletcher noted. But today 'we're seeing most of that disappearing', he insisted, forcing the humanitarian community to make 'brutal choices, life-and-death choices' about who receives help. 'For these women - the survivors of sexual violence, for the kids who told me they needed water, for the communities that told me they needed shelter, medicine, these cuts are real right now and people are dying because of the cuts,' the top UN official explained. Aid teams haven't stopped Despite the difficulties linked to the protracted nature of the conflict in DRC and the massive needs, UN aid teams and their partners are 'working hard to get access to those communities,' Mr. Fletcher insisted - 'trying to get the airport back open, trying to get roads open, trying to unblock checkpoints that are impeding our aid from getting through'. In an attempt to square the circle of the steadily diminishing amount of aid funding provided globally, Mr. Fletcher recently announced a 'hyper-prioritized' plan to save 114 million lives this year. But that is dependent on receiving the necessary funding. 'All we're asking for to do that is one per cent of what the world spent on defence last year,' he continued. After visiting and connecting with communities impacted time and again by the fighting, the top UN official insisted that they should not be forgotten. 'They are the frontlines of the humanitarian effort,' he said. Communities on front line 'I suppose the glimmer of hope in all of this is, yes, we can work in that more efficient and prioritized way and will do that; but also, the communities here who are - basically – they've come through so much and they are determined to support each other.' And despite rising antipathy in some countries towards international cooperation including the work and peace-promoting efforts of the United Nations, Mr. Fletcher insisted that reasons for optimism remain. 'I really strongly believe there is a movement out there that will back this work, that will support this work,' he told UN News. 'We've got to find them. We've got to enlist them, and we've got to show them that we can deliver for them. 'And, you know, I have not given up on human kindness and human solidarity. I have not given up on the UN Charter for a second. And this work is at the heart of it.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
DR Congo: Conflict's Survivors Have Been Through Hell, Says UN Aid Chief
26 June 2025 Speaking from the Goma region, whose main city was overrun by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in January, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher explained that people had suffered 'decades of trauma'. The last few months have been 'particularly horrific for so many', he added, referring to the lawless fall-out from heavy fighting this year between the rebel fighters and the regular DRC army that has been linked to serious human rights abuses, including potential war crimes. 'Most striking today and yesterday has been the stories of sexual violence, and sitting with women who tell horrific stories which are too horrific for me to tell here and who are trying to find the courage to rebuild their lives,' the UN relief chief said. ' We're there providing that support to them, trying to help them rebuild, but they have been through hell.' Peace call All those newly displaced by the M23 rebel advance are in addition to thefive million people already living in displacement campsin eastern DRC. Today, more than 20 million people need relief assistance. ' They are desperate for this conflict to end, ' Mr. Fletcher continued. A day after NATO Member States agreed to a five per cent increase in funding for their collective defence, investment in the humanitarian work of the UN and its partners is at rock bottom. In DRC, a full 70 per cent of UN aid programmes was historically funded by the United States – 'amazing generosity over decades' – Mr. Fletcher noted. But today 'we're seeing most of that disappearing', he insisted, forcing the humanitarian community to make 'brutal choices, life-and-death choices' about who receives help. 'For these women - the survivors of sexual violence, for the kids who told me they needed water, for the communities that told me they needed shelter, medicine, these cuts are real right now and people are dying because of the cuts,' the top UN official explained. Aid teams haven't stopped Despite the difficulties linked to the protracted nature of the conflict in DRC and the massive needs, UN aid teams and their partners are 'working hard to get access to those communities,' Mr. Fletcher insisted - 'trying to get the airport back open, trying to get roads open, trying to unblock checkpoints that are impeding our aid from getting through'. In an attempt to square the circle of the steadily diminishing amount of aid funding provided globally, Mr. Fletcher recently announced a 'hyper-prioritized' plan to save 114 million lives this year. But that is dependent on receiving the necessary funding. ' All we're asking for to do that is one per cent of what the world spent on defence last year,' he continued. After visiting and connecting with communities impacted time and again by the fighting, the top UN official insisted that they should not be forgotten. 'They are the frontlines of the humanitarian effort,' he said. Communities on front line 'I suppose the glimmer of hope in all of this is, yes, we can work in that more efficient and prioritized way and will do that; but also, the communities here who are - basically – they've come through so much and they are determined to support each other.' And despite rising antipathy in some countries towards international cooperation including the work and peace-promoting efforts of the United Nations, Mr. Fletcher insisted that reasons for optimism remain. 'I really strongly believe there is a movement out there that will back this work, that will support this work,' he told UN News. 'We've got to find them. We've got to enlist them, and we've got to show them that we can deliver for them. 'And, you know, I have not given up on human kindness and human solidarity. I have not given up on the UN Charter for a second. And this work is at the heart of it.'
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
UN aid chief warns of worsening humanitarian crisis in rebel-held eastern Congo
GOMA, Congo (AP) — The United Nations' humanitarian chief called Thursday for more international support for displaced people in Congo's rebel-controlled east during his first visit to the central African country. 'What I saw here is that the needs are enormous. The people need medicine, food, and protection. They are facing huge problems and challenges, and they need support,' Tom Fletcher, the head of the U.N. humanitarian agency, said after visiting refugee camps in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu. The decades-long conflict in eastern Congo escalated in January, when the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma in North Kivu province, followed by Bukavu in February. In February, the rebels closed settlement camps, leading to the displacement of more than 110,000 people in just a few days, according to the U.N. and locals. Maombi Pascaline, a displaced person living in Shasha, a rebel-controlled town near Goma, said she and her six children fled the M23 advance and found refuge in camps before M23 forced them to return home. 'When they arrived, they told us to go back home because the war was over. They said that anyone who didn't obey would be considered an enemy,' Pascaline told The Associated Press. Kasiwa Rusezera, a 60-year-old widow living in Shasha, said he was also forced to leave a displaced people camp. 'When M23 arrived, they said they would burn down the camp that was sheltering us. Each of us was told to destroy our little makeshift shelter, which forced us to leave,' Rusezera said. 'Today, we're left with nothing.' M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world's most significant humanitarian crises. More than 4 million people have been displaced, including hundreds of thousands who fled homes this year.
