“We’ve Suffered Enough”: Gisele Busima Speaks Out on U.S.-Brokered DRC–Rwanda Peace Deal
By Ndiho Media
A new U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is raising both hope and complex questions. Championed by President Donald Trump and signed in Washington, the deal promises to pull Rwandan troops out of eastern DRC and dismantle armed groups like M23 and the FDLR. But on the ground—and among survivors—the reaction is far from unanimous.
To understand what this moment means for everyday Congolese, Different Perspectives sat down with Gisele Busima, a Congolese-American entrepreneur and survivor of political persecution in the DRC. For her, this isn’t just a diplomatic milestone — it’s personal.
“My cousins have been displaced, killed, raped over the last 30 years,” she said. “This signature meant a lot—not just to me, but to the people of eastern Congo.”
Busima credits President Trump for making the deal happen and believes his leadership was the key factor in its success.
“He’s the only American president who’s had the courage to face this crisis head-on. He deserves a Nobel Peace Prize,” she said. “He’s not afraid to tell the truth.”
But she also sounded a clear warning: the hard part is still ahead.
“We’ve had peace deals before. They’ve meant nothing. This time, it has to be different. It depends on whether President Tshisekedi and President Kagame actually follow through.”
Busima says she was falsely accused of being a Rwandan spy, detained without charges, and subjected to emotional, mental, and physical abuse in Kinshasa.
Her plea to President Tshisekedi was direct:
“Mr. President, Rwanda is not killing us—we are killing ourselves. End the xenophobia. You are not just the president of Kinshasa or one tribe. You are the president of all Congolese.”
Despite everything she’s endured, Busima refuses to stay silent.
“I lost my business, my reputation, my freedom. But I’m speaking out—for every Congolese woman who’s been tortured, raped, or disappeared. The truth has to come out.”
Ndiho Media has reached out to the DRC’s Minister of Information for comment and is awaiting a response.
In part two of this exclusive interview, we’ll explore the specific allegations Busima has raised against key figures in the Congolese government.
Stay with us. The story isn’t over.
Ndiho Media,LLC. 