Today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, joined President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other high-ranking U.S. officials and foreign leaders at the historic peace deal signing ceremony between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace.

                “Skillfully and brilliantly brokered by President Trump, this momentous peace deal—known as the ‘Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity’—signifies an end to the lengthy, bloody, and costly conflict in the region,” said Smith, who, earlier this year, introduced legislation to formally recognize and applaud the President for arranging a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.

                “For decades, the people of the DRC have endured intense conflict, political instability, humanitarian crises, displacement, and human rights violations.

                “The unstable situation in the DRC has developed into one of the largest and most complex humanitarian crises in the world. Under President Trump’s strong leadership, we are now taking the necessary steps to end the violence and agony that has ravaged the region,” stated Smith.

                During the ceremony, President Trump thanked Smith for his longtime leadership on the issue. In 2008, Smith led a four-day human rights mission to Goma, DRC, with an emphasis on combating human trafficking, child soldiers, and sexual violence, as well as underscoring U.S. commitment to critical peace negotiations.

                Smith has also chaired 13 congressional hearings on the DRC-Rwanda conflict—one of which, held in 2011, featured the testimony of Ben Affleck, an actor and founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative. Another critical hearing chaired by Smith in 2012, entitled “The Devastating Crisis in Eastern Congo,” examined the humanitarian crisis in the DRC and the role of U.S. policy in bringing an end to the conflict.

                “I am enduringly grateful to President Trump for his unwavering commitment to promoting and securing peace throughout the globe, and I extend my deepest thanks to his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as his Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos,” continued Smith.

                “I look forward to working alongside President Trump and his extremely effective administration to watch the peace process unfold and ensure that the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda are honoring the terms of the agreement.”

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