Trump Brokers Peace Deal Between DRC and Rwanda, While Securing Access to Critical Minerals
On 4 December 2025, US President Donald Trump hosted the Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame in Washington, DC, to sign a peace deal as well as agreements to secure access to certain #CriticalMinerals. To lend more weight to the deal, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, in his capacity as the African Union (AU) Chair, and Kenyan President William Ruto, as East African Community (EAC) Chair, also attended the ceremony.
Other dignitaries included the Chair of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Youssouf, Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Togo President Faure Gnassingbe, Uganda Vice-President Jessica Alupo, Qatar Minister of State Mohammed al Khulaifi, UAE Minister of State Shakhboot bin Nahyan al Nahyan, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The conflict between DRC and Rwanda bleeds over the Great Lakes Region and explains the presence of Uganda, Burundi. Other countries contributed to the peace process.
In addition, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Joint Venture (JV) between Gecamines, a Congolese state-owned enterprise (SOE) and Mercuria, a Swiss commodities trader, to enhance the commercialization of #cobalt, #copper and other critical minerals.
The DFC issued a second LOI to Portuguese civil works contractor, Mota-Engil (EGL: MOTA.LS), to undertake the rehabilitation of the Dilolo-Sakania railway segment in DRC. The railway line forms part of the #LobitoCorridor, which aims to transport the Critical Minerals from the Copperbelt region of DRC to the seaport of Lobito in Angola.
However, all is not rosy between The Land of a Thousand Hills and The Heart of Africa. During the signing ceremony, the seating arrangement was a little odd, with Trump, the mediator, sitting on the side rather than in the middle. During their respective remarks, both Kagame and Tshisekedi profusely thanked Trump, but omitted to mention each other.
Therefore, some observers believe that the armed conflict is far from over. Indeed, the Rwandan-backed militias of M23 and FDLR continued to exchange fire with Congolese troops, apparently going about ‘business as usual’ and seeming quite oblivious to any peace accord.
Nevertheless, the deal is viewed as a significant achievement for Trump, as it bolsters US access to the #CriticalMinerals in the region. The issue of Critical Minerals has become particularly acute during the US-China trade war, as China resorted to its #RareEarths trump card to counter Trump’s #tariffs.