In a significant development on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio officiated the signing of a pivotal agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington. This initiative aims to forge a path towards a peace agreement that would enhance U.S. access to essential minerals in Congo’s mineral-rich eastern provinces, where conflict has persisted for nearly 30 years.
Rubio’s presence highlights the Trump administration’s approach to revamping U.S. foreign policy, centering on economically or strategically beneficial transactions. The two African nations anticipate that U.S. engagement and the promise of substantial investments could pacify the ongoing conflicts and militia activity that have thwarted past peacekeeping efforts since the 1990s.
While promising, there’s an inherent risk that U.S. involvement could exacerbate the violence, corruption, and human rights abuses linked to the mining sector in eastern Congo. “A lasting peace would pave the way for more significant U.S. and Western investment, fostering economic opportunities and prosperity,” remarked Rubio, aligning with President Trump’s global prosperity vision.
Congo is renowned as the leading global source of cobalt, indispensable for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and smartphones, with significant reserves of gold, diamonds, and copper. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi is seeking a partnership with the Trump administration to gain better access to these resources, in return for U.S. assistance in quelling regional hostilities.
Regionally, eastern Congo has been an epicenter of turmoil, with over 100 armed groups contesting the territory surrounding its mineral wealth near the Rwanda border. This unrest has led to one of the most severe humanitarian crises worldwide, displacing more than 7 million individuals, with at least 100,000 uprooted this year alone.
Since the 1990s, the conflict in eastern Congo has been responsible for the deaths of approximately 6 million people, following the genocide in Rwanda. After the 1994 genocide, many of the perpetrators, who were among Rwanda’s ethnic Hutus, crossed into Congo, igniting proxy conflicts between militias connected to both nations’ governments.
On Friday, ahead of the signing ceremony, Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner emphasized the importance of the agreement, urging both nations to establish security and a conducive business environment, restore millions of displaced people, and achieve other critical objectives. “This signals a beginning rather than an end,” she stated, adding, “Peace is within reach; however, it must be earned.”
Addressing the civilians of eastern Congo who have been ravaged by violence, Wagner said, “We recognize you’re watching this moment with caution, hope, and skepticism. You rightly expect us to provide solutions commensurate with your suffering.” Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe underscored that the two governments are proactively tackling critical issues like security and refugee repatriation.
“We’re focusing on establishing a fresh regional economic value chain that intertwines our countries, bolstered by American private sector investments,” Nduhungirehe noted.
Massad Boulos, serving as Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, played a pivotal role in facilitating the U.S.’s attempt to stabilize eastern Congo, hinting at potentially multibillion-dollar investment opportunities.
Friday’s announcement was met with both optimism and caution from Congolese civil society figures. Christophe Muisa, a human rights activist based in Goma, now controlled by the potent M23 armed faction, contended that the deal primarily benefits the U.S. and advised Congo against outsourcing its security responsibilities.
Georges Kapiamba, at the helm of the Congolese Association for the Access to Justice, shared his support for a U.S.-backed mineral-security agreement but expressed concerns that the Congolese government might divert the benefits away from national interests.
Following President Trump’s re-election, his administration has pursued reducing U.S. diplomacy and foreign aid to agreements that directly support perceived American strategic and economic interests. Consequently, numerous U.S. aid and development personnel and programs globally have been cut.
In a related move, the Trump administration is negotiating a minerals agreement with Ukraine, considered as repayment for previous U.S. military aid following Russia’s 2022 invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed this idea, seeking to fortify Ukraine’s stance against Russian aggression by binding U.S. interests with Ukraine’s future.
If the strategy for Congo achieves its goals, it could potentially stabilize the region, suggested Gyude Moore, a former Liberian Cabinet minister now with Washington’s Center for Global Development. However, Moore warned, “This venture, particularly in a conflict-prone region lacking a viable political solution, poses significant risks for the U.S. as it pursues an extractive foreign policy in Africa.”
Liam Karr, overseeing the Africa section at the American Enterprise Institute’s critical threats project in Washington, expressed confidence in the Trump administration’s awareness and ability to circumvent such risks, including avoiding direct military involvement.
Karr cautioned that the broader danger lies in American intervention echoing past unsuccessful U.N. and African peace initiatives. “This could simply falter and fail to progress,” he concluded.