Algeria welcomed on Friday the peace agreement signed between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda, describing it as "an exceptionally important milestone in establishing lasting peace and security in both countries."

In a statement, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "its welcome of the signing of a peace agreement today in Washington between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda," noting that "the conclusion of this agreement represents a qualitative development in a region long plagued by violence and tragic divisions between brothers."

The statement added that "this agreement will restore diplomacy's original role in peaceful conflict resolution and could serve as a model for resolving other crises across the African continent through negotiated peaceful solutions."

Algeria affirmed its "full support for the implementation of the agreement's provisions," expressing hope that "this constructive momentum will extend to other troubled regions in Africa," contributing to "establishing the foundations of a secure, stable continent that directs its energies toward comprehensive development and sustainable prosperity."

The agreement comes after years of tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali. The DRC has accused its eastern neighbor Rwanda of supporting the M23 armed movement operating along their shared border to exploit resources in eastern Congo, while Kigali denies these allegations, stating it seeks to combat fighters linked to the 1994 genocide.

It's worth noting that previous reconciliation attempts between the two parties have failed despite the signing of more than 10 ceasefire agreements since 2021, making this latest agreement the subject of widespread international anticipation.