Trump Brokers Peace Deal Between Rwanda and DRC, Paving Way for U.S. Mineral Investments

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — President Trump presided over the signing of a long-awaited peace accord between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, hailing it as a “historic” breakthrough that would end decades of bloodshed and unlock vast mineral riches for American companies.

The agreement, inked at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, commits the neighboring African nations to a ceasefire, joint economic cooperation and the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from eastern Congo — a region plagued by conflict fueled by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. In a separate bilateral pacts, both countries pledged to prioritize U.S. firms in mining deals for critical resources like cobalt, copper and coltan, essential for electric vehicles, smartphones and defense tech.

“They’ve spent a lot of time killing each other and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands and taking advantage of the United States of America economically like every other country does,” Trump quipped during remarks, flanked by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.

The trilateral ceremony capped months of U.S.- and Qatar-brokered talks, building on a preliminary framework signed in June at the White House and a November Doha declaration with the M23 group. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a deal “that President Trump brokered,” emphasizing its role in stabilizing the Great Lakes region for Western investment.

Yet even as pens were put to paper, skepticism lingered. Intense clashes erupted this week near the border town of Kamanyola, with the U.N. reporting at least 319 civilian deaths in North Kivu province since July, many attributed to M23 fighters aided by Rwandan troops. Congolese critics, including opposition figures and civil society groups, decried the accord as “symbolic” and ineffective without enforceable troop pullouts. Kinshasa has insisted it won’t advance economic ties until Rwanda fully disengages, while Kigali demands Congo neutralize Hutu militias linked to the 1994 genocide.

Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, expressed optimism during a Wednesday briefing: “We really think the United States will get involved because it’s interested in what the DRC has to offer.” The pacts include U.S. commitments to buy Congolese and Rwandan natural resources, alongside joint ventures in hydroelectric power, infrastructure and mining — moves experts say could funnel billions into the mineral-rich east, where China currently dominates extraction.

The conflict’s toll is staggering: Over 30 years, hundreds of thousands have perished, millions displaced, in a war rooted in ethnic tensions from Rwanda’s genocide era. This year’s M23 offensive captured key cities like Goma, displacing thousands more and spiking global mineral prices.

Kenyan President William Ruto is slated to guarantee the deal’s implementation. Trump, fresh off boasting of ending other global hotspots since his January return to office, touted the accord as proof of his deal-making prowess. “I know they’re going to keep them and follow through,” he said of the signatories.

Analysts like Jason Stearns, a Congo expert, cautioned that while the economic incentives are real, “obstacles to implementation remain high.” Bloomberg noted the “impact unclear” amid festering violence.

The signing drew praise from some quarters for prioritizing U.S. strategic interests, but human rights advocates urged swift monitoring to protect civilians. As Trump hosted a post-ceremony lunch, the real test — turning ink into peace — loomed large over the resource-laden frontier.