Issued on: 28/06/2025 - FRANCE24
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed a peace agreement in Washington, pledging to end support for armed groups after a deadly conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. President Trump, hosting the nations’ foreign ministers at the White House, hailed the deal as a turning point and celebrated access to mineral wealth. The accord, brokered through Qatar, follows M23's rapid advances in eastern DRC, though it stops short of addressing their territorial gains. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective, FRANCE 24' Gavin Lee welcomes Michela Wrong, renowned Journalist and Non-Fiction Author, specialising in contemporary Africa.
Video by: Gavin LEE
Trump ally eyes Congo mine vital to global tech
The Democratic Republic of Congo is discussing the rights to the Rubaya coltan mine with an consortium led by Trump ‘associate’ Gentry Beach, the Financial Times reported.
Beach, the chair of investment firm America First Global and former Trump campaign finance co-chair, and Swiss trader Mercuria aim to take rights to Rubaya to bankroll US-backed peace efforts in eastern DRC.
The project could need over $500 million, with output legally channeled via Rwanda and a Kigali-based smelter proposed.
As the US leads peace negotiations between the DRC and Rwanda, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has pitched a deal to the Trump administration, proposing access to key mineral assets in exchange for help in suppressing the M23 rebellion and stabilizing the conflict-ridden east.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Kigali and Kinshasa are due to sign a draft peace accord in Washington this Friday, brokered by the US and Qatar, aiming to secure ceasefire, troop pull-out, and disarmament of militias including M23.
The promise of US infrastructure and minerals investment, orchestrated in typical Trump transactional style, underpins the deal and is seen as a counterbalance to Chinese dominance in the region.
Coltan’s global role
Rubaya lies in the heart of the eastern DRC, a mineral-rich zone long ravaged by conflict. The area has been central to one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with more than seven million displaced, including 100,000 this year alone.
The Rubaya mines, repeatedly seized by rebel groups and government forces, are key to supplying coltan, an ore critical to modern electronics and defense systems.
Coltan—short for columbite-tantalite—is used to extract tantalum and niobium, both vital to electronics, aerospace, and military sectors. Tantalum is used in phones, computers, missile components and aircraft engines; niobium is critical for pipelines and jet engines.
In 2023, the DRC supplied 40% of the world’s coltan, according to the US Geological Survey, with Australia, Canada and Brazil trailing behind.
Saudi Arabia Welcomes US-Brokered Peace Agreement Between Rwanda And DR Congo
Ministerial signing of the Peace Agreement between the DR Congo and Rwanda with Secretary Marco Rubio. Photo Credit: Department of State, X
By Arab News
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a deal facilitated by the United States with support from Qatar, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom hoped the accord would meet “the hopes and aspirations of the two peoples for development and prosperity,” and contribute to “regional and international security and peace.”
The ministry also praised “the diplomatic efforts and constructive role played by the United States of America and the State of Qatar in this regard.”
The agreement, finalized on Friday, aims to de-escalate long-running tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, which have intensified in recent years over accusations of mutual support for armed rebel groups operating along their shared border.
The most prominent of these is the M23 militia, which Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of backing — a charge Kigali denies.
Efforts to mediate between the two neighbours have gained urgency amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, where conflict has displaced more than seven million people.
The US and Qatar have played key roles in recent months in bringing the two sides to the table for talks, culminating in the formal agreement to ease hostilities and commit to renewed dialogue.
Arab News
Arab News is Saudi Arabia's first English-language newspaper. It was founded in 1975 by Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz. Today, it is one of 29 publications produced by Saudi Research & Publishing Company (SRPC), a subsidiary of Saudi Research & Marketing Group (SRMG).
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