The American mediators between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda deals to end the war on mineral wealth

Johannesburg, South Africa – At the invitation of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Felix Czechids, the Trump administration was brought to lead the negotiations to finish A war raging in the east of the country Among the forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the rebels are believed to be supported by Rwanda. A peace deal has been prepared on Wednesday evening by officials from neighboring countries, and it is scheduled to be officially signed late next week in Washington by their leaders, and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio witnessed it. The Foreign Ministry said.

While many in the region will welcome the end of the long -term and deadly conflict, Daniel Van Dalin, a great analyst at the reference company to the intelligence company that focuses on Africa, says that the way the agreement brought the agreement indicates a major change in geopolitical efforts to end crises on the continent. He says that the days of soft diplomatic power have ended.

The officials said the agreement is part of the new offer of the United States under President Trump to build relations in Africa, which is the most transaction and less focused on exercising soft power through diplomacy and investment.

The deal came three days after the talks in Washington between DRC and Rwandan Plevations – and after many failed attempts to secure an agreement between the two countries.

If implemented, the agreement will end the fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It can also bring billions of dollars in American investment in the region, which is rich in colin metal, cobalt, lehum, copper and gold, all of which are decisive in manufacturing electric cars, smartphones, computers and a wide range of other high -tech goods, from satellites to military weapons systems.

The curse of mineral wealth in the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country of almost the size of Alaska and Tksas combined, however Vast metal reserves Sitting largely in the Far East, near the border with Rwanda. Many local population calls it a curse, because fighting about resource control has led to three decades of fighting in the region, About six million people were killedAccording to the 2022 analysis by the Institute of External Policy Research.

More than 125 different armed groups have fought from access to metal reserves, but the largest M23 militia group is the only one believed to be supported by a neighboring country – Rwanda. The United States government and United Nations officials believe that Rwanda supports M23 militants, although Rwandan officials have denied this over and over again.

Van Dalin says M23 is different from other armed groups in the region, as it sought regional control and expansion. The estimated group has taken 5,000 soldiers in two provinces in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in the past few months. He said that M23 has created parallel government structures, with tax systems, in those areas, and it will be very difficult to remove them.

Critics of the peace deal that was circulated in the United States are questioned, because the M23 is not signed on the agreement and did not participate directly in the negotiations, and the Rwandan government denies official links with the group.

Van Dalin said that the deal will only succeed if the M23 is committing the conditions. Rwanda walked from previous peace talks, while M23 rose to a new region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“This is still true today, as the M23 is still paying, despite peace negotiations, to achieve regional gains,” Van Dalin told CBS News on Thursday.

Since M23 seizes the two provinces in DRC, Van Dalin said there is an increase in Rwandan metal exports – an increase that represents more than the country could represent from its limited reserves.

CBS News understands from sources in the region that Rwanda indicated a willingness to withdraw its forces, who are believed to support the M23 fighters in the region, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo may be the idea of ​​some minerals, locally bombs and on a small scale of its territory, being sold via Rwanda.

Trump administration is looking for deals: “High risk, with wide rewards”

Amid the peace negotiations in Washington, the father of the son -in -law of President Trump Tiffany, Masad Paulus, He was brought as a great advisor To the White House in Africa.

It was quickly sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the neighboring nations, “to meet the heads of state leaders and businesses to progress in efforts for a permanent peace in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and promote investment in the private sector in the region.”

Van Dalin said this work was focusing on separate deals with the Republic of Congo Rwanda, on the possible response program. A previous agreement between Britain and Rwanda, for the United Kingdom to deport immigrants to the African nation, It collapsed before it started As a result of the decisions of the British Court and then a change in the government in the United Kingdom

Van Dalin said that striking deals such as this can give the White House the ability to describe peace -making efforts with critical resources for the United States, but it can also help in facing China’s dominance in the metal sector in Africa. It is China’s tactic and Russia has Used for many years.

Chinese companies currently Control more than 80 % of the cobalt Reserves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to US government estimates.

In its statement on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister Rubio will witness the signing of the DRC-RWANDA deal in Washington on June 27.

He said that the parties agreed to “the provisions of respect for regional integrity and the prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration of non -governmental armed groups”, in addition to establishing a “joint security coordination mechanism”, and facilitating the arrangement of economic charity. “

American companies had mining operations in the region several decades ago, but they left when the armed conflict and corruption in regional governments made these operations fraught with risk.

The President of the Democratic Republic of the Democratic Republic of the Congo recently reviewed the legislation that could reform the country’s tax law in ways that make the mining sector more attractive to Western business interests.

These proposed changes have already sparked new attention, as American funding is committed to developing the Lobito-railway to connect the “copper belt” that was imprisoned in DRC with the Apostle Atlantic Port.

In November, then Joe Biden Angela visited and watched directly to the Porto Port Port. The next month, The Biden Administration announced An additional amount of $ 560 million in the United States for the project.

“It would be a great risk, with wide rewards, both for the region and the United States itself,” Van Dalin said, adding that, in his opinion, this will also be with the “Treated Nature Trump.”