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4mo ago

U.S.-Led Congo-Rwanda Peace Talks Focus on Mineral Processing and Investment Deals

Negotiations aim to formalize mineral trade and secure Western investment, with troop withdrawal and sovereignty guarantees remaining key hurdles.

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U.S. President Donald Trump's Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos addresses a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda April 8, 2025. REUTERS/Jean Bizimana/File Photo
Members of the M23 rebel group mount their vehicles after the opening ceremony of Caisse Generale d'epargne du Congo in Goma, North Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 7, 2025. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signs a Declaration of Principles with Congolese Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, in Washington, April 25, 2025 (Sipa photo by Graeme Sloan via AP).

Overview

  • The U.S. is mediating peace negotiations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, linking a ceasefire to mineral trade agreements and Western investment opportunities.
  • Talks center on allowing Congolese minerals, such as tungsten and tantalum, to be legally processed in Rwanda, potentially reducing conflict financing and increasing transparency.
  • Kinshasa demands the withdrawal of Rwandan troops and respect for its sovereignty over mineral resources as prerequisites for any agreement.
  • The U.S. has engaged approximately 30 American investors, with support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, to back downstream mineral processing projects in Rwanda.
  • The initiative reflects a U.S. strategy to challenge China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains while addressing the conflict in eastern Congo, which has displaced hundreds of thousands.