Africa peace agreement brokered by Trump associated to US resource push
(MENAFN) Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending a long-standing conflict, with US President Donald Trump stating the deal grants the US rights to the region’s valuable mineral resources. For years, Congolese officials have accused Rwanda of supporting armed groups in eastern DR Congo and smuggling minerals, accusations Kigali denies despite backing from the UN and international community.
The agreement, signed in Washington by the foreign ministers of both countries alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, includes a 90-day withdrawal of Rwandan troops from DR Congo, disarmament and reintegration measures, and the establishment of a joint security mechanism. While Rwanda’s foreign minister called it a “turning point,” DR Congo’s representative expressed caution, emphasizing the need for actual disengagement.
The deal also creates a “regional economic integration framework” involving Rwanda, DR Congo, and the US, aiming to expand trade and investment in mineral supply chains. Trump announced that the agreement would grant the US “a lot of the mineral rights” from DR Congo. Although the text does not specify transfers, it promises to develop joint mineral value chains linking both African countries with the US and its investors within three months.
Reuters sources revealed that a separate deal for US mineral rights in DR Congo is anticipated, contingent on Qatar-mediated talks between DR Congo and the M23 militant group. These negotiations, distinct from the US-led process, are crucial to ending hostilities, with Qatar recently presenting a peace plan draft.
The mineral-rich eastern Congo holds the world’s largest cobalt reserves and significant deposits of gold, lithium, copper, and coltan. Following the signing, Trump met the African envoys in the Oval Office and invited their presidents for further talks in Washington.
This agreement is part of Trump’s wider strategy to secure critical minerals through diplomatic efforts. Recently, the US also reached a deal with China to resume rare-earth exports after a tariff dispute, and signed a minerals agreement with Ukraine earlier this year, linked to US aid repayment—though the repayment clause was eventually removed. Trump suggested the US could potentially recover much more than it invested.
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