On his recent visit to Washington, D.C., William Ruto expressed his deep concern over the long-lasting conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling the decades-long suffering “a profound injustice” to the region’s innocent civilians.

Addressing the media after witnessing the signing of the historic peace agreement between DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame of Rwanda at the United States Institute of Peace, Ruto described the new deal — the Washington Accord — as the “most credible and hopeful pathway” to ending more than thirty years of conflict.

He noted the conflict has devastated communities — stripping children of their childhoods, uprooting families, halting trade, and stalling development across the region. The Accord, he said, offers a chance to restore dignity, rebuild lives, and renew hope for lasting peace.

Ruto extended gratitude to Donald J. Trump for his “steadfast commitment and decisive leadership” in facilitating the deal, and commended regional actors such as the East African Community and Southern African Development Community, along with mediators whose tireless work led to this defining moment.

As African leaders gathered at the White House for the signing, Ruto urged all parties to fully respect and implement the Accord, so that displaced families in eastern DRC can finally return home — and begin to rebuild with hope, dignity, and peace restored.