U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Rwandan President Paul Kagame and DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to the White House on Thursday, where the three leaders signed a major agreement aimed at ending decades of bloodshed in eastern Congo.
A White House Celebration
Trump called the moment a personal diplomatic triumph. “These two gentlemen are doing tremendous work for their people,” he said. “This is a deal nobody thought could happen.”
Both Kagame and Tshisekedi described the accord as a “new beginning” for the region.
What the Deal Covers
- Formal peace framework building on a June preliminary accord
- New economic integration plan for the Great Lakes region
- Separate bilateral mineral deals giving U.S. companies access to Congo and Rwanda’s vast critical resources
The White House framed the package as turning “conflict minerals into prosperity minerals.”
Ground Reality vs Ceremony
Even as cameras flashed in Washington, fighting continued in South Kivu between DRC forces and M23 rebels. Analysts warn the agreement binds only the two governments — not the M23 movement, which is negotiating separately with Qatar.
Why It Matters
Eastern Congo holds some of the world’s largest deposits of cobalt, coltan and lithium — essential for batteries and electronics. The deal gives American firms a direct foothold while aiming to starve armed groups of mining revenue.
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