New York, June 28 (QNA) - HE Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres commended the efforts made by the State of Qatar and the United States of America to facilitate the peace agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a statement today attributable to his Spokesperson and published on the UN news website, Guterres said the accord is "a significant step towards de-escalation, peace and stability in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region."

He urged the parties to fully implement the commitments they made in the peace agreement, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2773 (2025), including the cessation of hostilities and all other agreed measures. The Secretary-General affirmed that the United Nations, including the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), is fully committed to supporting the implementation of the agreement, in close coordination with the African Union and regional and international partners.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C., raising hopes for an end to the fighting that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands since the beginning of this year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the foreign ministers of the two countries at the State Department to sign the agreement. They had initialed the draft agreement on June 18 in Washington, D.C., following three days of dialogue described as constructive, purposeful, and frank. (QNA)