President Donald Trump lauded Kenyan athletes during the signing of the Washington Accord, marvelling at their global track successHe praised President William Ruto for supporting sportsmen and women, even inviting him to attend the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los AngelesRuto was among African leaders present at the peace deal ceremony between Rwanda and the DRC which have been in conflict, with Kinshasa accusing Rwanda of bankrolling and support the the M23 rebels in GomaSearch option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner 😉
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Washington, D.C: President Ronald Trump expressed his amazement at Kenyan athletes, recognising their feats in the world of sports.
President Donald Trump shaking hands with President William Ruto Washington D.C. Photo: William Ruto.
Source: UGCSpeaking during the signing of a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in Washington, D.C., the US president wondered how easily the athletes succeed in the tracks across the world.
How Donald Trump spoke highly of Kenyan athletesHe seemed to flatter President William Ruto, recognising him for the support his government gives to the sportsmen and women.
Trump noted that he had been observing the Kenyan runners for a long time, concluding that they are good in their respective crafts.
He invited Ruto for the next Summer Olympics in 2028, which will be held in Los Angeles.
“I have just really fantastic meeting with the the president of Kenya. We have the Olympics here. They do very well in the Olympics, those runners; I don’t know what the heck you do with those runners. They are very good. I’ve been watching them for a long time. So we have the Olympics coming to the United States. You know that. Thank you very much, and you’ll come as our guest. Thank you,” Trump said.Ruto was among the African heads of state and leaders invited by Trump to witness the signing of the Washington Accord for peace between Rwanda and the DRC.
How Ruto reacted to Trump’s effort in DRC-Rwanda peace dealSpeaking after the signing, the president commended Trump’s role in advancing peace efforts in the region.
He noted that the conflict had deprived the Great Lakes region of its dignity, adding that livelihoods there had been negatively affected by the war, with a far-reaching impact on the larger continent.
“Today’s signing of the peace accord for the eastern DRC is not merely a monumental diplomatic milestone; it is a decisive act to end a devastating conflict that has scarred the region for decades. This conflict has destroyed livelihoods, destabilised our region and threatened the future of the entire Great Lakes Region and the entire African continent,” he said.President William Ruto speaking in Washington D.C, where he witnessed the signing of a peace deal between the DRC and Rwanda presided over by President Donald Trump. Photo: William Ruto.
Source: TwitterRuto went ahead to invite Trump to the crisis in Sudan, pleading with him to, with the same commitment as in the Eastern DRC issue, intervene in the situation in Khartoum.
In Sudan, fierce fighting between the national army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into civil war, unleashing a wave of humanitarian crises.
Millions have been uprooted from their homes, while civilians endure war crimes, starvation, and restricted access to aid.
Why did US intervene in the DRC-Rwanda conflict?Following the inability of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to broker peace in Eastern DRC, the US and Qatar stepped in with external mediation.
Their joint initiative resulted in the Washington Accord, which brought together representatives from Rwanda and the DRC.
Under the agreement, Rwanda was directed to withdraw its troops within three months, while the DRC was required to cease support for the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
The accord also outlined plans for regional economic integration to engage the rival parties constructively and urged the DRC to pursue a truce with M23 to facilitate the return of displaced communities and restore humanitarian services.
Although the EAC welcomed the US‑Qatar intervention, it stressed that African‑led solutions remain the most sustainable approach.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
