Trump hopes to secure U.S. mineral rights as he hosts peace talks between Rwanda and DRC

The leaders hope the peace deal can end the latest round of bitter fighting in eastern DRC, most notably between government forces and M23 rebels linked with Rwanda. Trump, on the other hand, has his own stake in brokering peace: mineral rights.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world, with an estimated wealth of $24 trillion in natural minerals. Many of these minerals are vital for expanding the IT and AI industries, on which the U.S. relies. So far, China has led the way in tapping into the DRC’s reserves; today, Trump is hoping to change that.

Trump’s clear incentives for brokering peace may trigger alarm bells for many, however, the DRC’s government asserts that “sovereignty over resources remains entirely Congolese”. DRC Presidential spokesperson Tina Salama told the press this deal “is not 'peace in exchange for minerals', as has been claimed - it is about securing minerals to deprive the war of financing”.

Control of eastern Congo’s mineral wealth has long been a central driver of the region’s instability. Rebel militia groups like M23 often seize mines and key transport routes to extract revenue. Minerals like cobalt, copper and gold are easily smuggled out of the country and provide a reliable source of income that can be used to pay fighters, buy guns and maintain territorial control.

U.S. investment in Congo’s mining industry could ensure that everyday Congolese people benefit from the wealth extracted from their country’s mines and help starve militia groups of funding.

However, even as Rwanda’s President Kagame and the DRC’s President Tshisekedi arrive in Washington, the fighting rages on in eastern DR Congo. The fighting sides on the ground are less swayed by the U.S. president’s appetite for economic deals and so preliminary accords agreed over the summer, in Washington and Doha, have often been ignored.

This week, both Rwanda and the DRC have accused the other of sabotaging peace talks with ceasefire violations, and few expect today's deal to have an immediate impact on the ground.

Ultimately, whether this deal delivers peace will be decided not in Washington, but in the hills where militias still trade bullets for minerals.