The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. to help end the decades-long, deadly fighting in eastern Congo.

The signing of a peace agreement between the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington has elicited mixed reactions, with the former Congolese president, Joseph Kabila, describing it as "nothing more than a trade agreement".

Experts expressed hope that the new peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to end the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo will help ease the dire humanitarian crisis in the region. More than 6.7 million people are internally displaced across Congo, according to UN figures released late last year.