EditRwanda-Congo: Trump attempts another peace deal in exchange of minerals
Qatar again plays pivotal role, underscores the small country’s outsized diplomatic influence
On 27 June Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington, a move President Donald Trump hailed as a “glorious triumph” to end decades of conflict in eastern DRC.
At a ceremony with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, the two African countries’ foreign ministers signed the agreement pledging to implement a 2024 deal that would see Rwandan troops withdraw from eastern Congo within 90 days.
Kinshasa and Kigali will also launch a regional economic integration framework within 90 days, the agreement said.
“They were going at it for many years, and with machetes – it is one of the worst, one of the worst wars that anyone has ever seen. And I just happened to have somebody that was able to get it settled,” Trump said on Friday, ahead of the signing of the deal in Washington.
The deal, mediated with significant input from Qatar, intertwines peace with economic incentives, particularly access to the region’s vast mineral wealth – tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium – crucial for global technology industries.
The agreement’s economic core is its promise to “de-risk mineral supply chains” and establish value chains linking Rwanda and the DRC with U.S. investors.
Trump boasted that the U.S. secured “a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo,” positioning the deal as a strategic counter to China’s dominance in the DRC’s mineral sector, where Chinese firms control 80% of cobalt production.
The DRC, with an estimated $24 trillion in mineral reserves, and Rwanda’s emerging mining industry are poised to attract billions in Western investment, including from U.S. firms like KoBold Metals, backed by Trump supporters like Marc Andreessen and Jeff Bezos.
Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, emphasised that bilateral mineral deals with both nations would accompany the peace accord.
A May 2025 Reuters report noted Boulos’ expectation that these deals would unlock multi-billion-dollar investments once Rwanda withdraws its troops and ends support for the M23 rebels, while the DRC addresses Rwanda’s concerns about the Hutu-led Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). The agreement gives both countries 90 days to launch a regional economic integration framework to facilitate these investments, with a separate minerals-focused agreement expected at a future White House event.
This approach aligns with Trump’s broader trade strategy, seen in his recent negotiations with Canada and China, where resource access often underpins diplomatic efforts. The U.S. president is pushing for a peace deal in Ukraine by securing access to its vast mineral resources, including rare earths, through a U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund signed on 30 April, aiming to tie economic incentives to conflict resolution.
Qatar’s outsized role
Qatar, a small Gulf state with significant diplomatic clout, played a pivotal role in mediating the agreement, complementing U.S. efforts. Doha hosted parallel talks between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame in March 2025, securing an initial ceasefire. Qatar’s envoys also facilitated discussions with the M23 rebels, a key sticking point, with ongoing Doha talks deemed essential for the economic framework’s success. The agreement explicitly supports these Qatar-hosted negotiations, highlighting Doha’s influence.
Qatar’s mediation builds on its growing reputation as a neutral broker in African conflicts, leveraging its wealth and strategic partnerships. A U.S. State Department statement praised Qatar’s “valuable contributions” to ensuring alignment with U.S. initiatives. This collaboration underscores Qatar’s ability to amplify its influence in global diplomacy, bridging African and Western interests despite its small size.
Peace terms and challenges
The agreement commits Rwanda to withdraw its estimated 7,000 troops from eastern DRC within 90 days and end support for the M23 rebels, who seized key cities like Goma and Bukavu in 2025. The DRC must address the FDLR, a Rwanda security concern, within the same timeframe. A joint security coordination mechanism will be formed within 30 days to monitor compliance. However, the deal’s vague language – using “disengagement” instead of “withdrawal” at Rwanda’s insistence -raises doubts about enforcement.
The M23’s exclusion from direct negotiations complicates matters, with their leader, Corneille Nangaa, rejecting deals made without their input. Past agreements, like those mediated by Angola in 2024, failed due to non-implementation, a concern echoed by Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, who urged Trump to ensure compliance with “severe penalties” for violations. Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner stressed the need for “disengagement, justice, and the return of displaced families,” noting the expectations of millions affected by the conflict.
As Trump prepares to host Tshisekedi and Kagame to finalize the “Washington Accord,” it remains unclear how U.S. would balance its mineral ambitions with the region’s need for justice and lasting peace.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Democratic Republic of the Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (2-R) and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (2-L) in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 27 June 2025. Also in the meeting, US Vice President JD Vance (C-L) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C-R). Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will sign an agreement in Washington, on 27 June to put an end to a conflict in the eastern DRC that has killed thousands. EPA/YURI GRIPAS / POOL
Updated: June 28, 2025 - 10:33
