The United States is ramping up diplomatic efforts to broker a peace accord between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, with plans for the two nations to sign the deal at the White House within the next two months, Reuters reported Thursday.
This initiative is spearheaded by Massad Boulos, senior Africa advisor to US President Donald Trump, and is seen as part of a broader strategy to unlock multi-billion dollar Western investments in the region’s rich mineral sector. The peace effort runs parallel to new bilateral mining agreements under negotiation with both DRC and Rwanda.
“The agreement with the DRC is at a much bigger scale because it’s a much bigger country with more resources. But Rwanda also holds strong potential in the mining sector,” Boulos told Reuters.
The DRC is the world’s top producer of cobalt and leads Africa in copper output. It also accounts for around 70% of global tantalum production, sourced from its vast coltan reserves. The mineral-rich eastern provinces also contain tin, tungsten, and additional deposits of coltan — resources long at the heart of regional instability.
Tensions between DRC and Rwanda have persisted for decades, fueled by ethnic divisions and competition over control of these valuable resources. The conflict intensified earlier this year when M23 rebels — allegedly backed by Rwanda — took over areas of eastern Congo, including the strategic mining town of Walikale.
As part of the US-led mediation, both countries are expected to submit draft versions of a peace agreement on Friday. A high-level meeting scheduled for mid-May will bring together US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with the foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC, to finalize the deal.
Key provisions being negotiated include the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern DRC and an end to alleged Rwandan support for M23 rebels. In exchange, the Congolese government must address Kigali’s concerns over the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed largely of Rwandan Hutu fighters.
A multinational oversight committee composed of the US, France, Qatar, and Togo will monitor implementation and compliance with the agreement, according to Boulos.
