African Critical Minerals Competition: US Mediates Peace Between the Rich in Critical Minerals Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
In Washington, on Friday, June 27, 2025, the current U.S. Secretary of State presided over a signed agreement between the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madame Thérèse Kikwete Wagner, and the Foreign Minister of Rwanda, Olivier Nduhungirehe, representing their respective countries, aimed at restoring peace in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The reaction from the political arena and the public within the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been mixed.
Under the mediation of the current U.S. administration, the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda made a historic handshake in Washington yesterday, on Friday (June 27, 2025). The agreement was signed in three copies.
The United States values the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the signing ceremony, stated that this is an important moment after thirty years of war, but there is still much to be done. Matthew Blaustein, an advisor on African affairs for President Trump, said that Kigali has committed to removing Rwanda's defensive measures, although the agreement does not explicitly mention the M23 movement.
President Donald Trump has separately invited the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, to attend a meeting at the White House. This summit is scheduled to take place at the end of July.
Mixed Reactions Within the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The political arena within the Democratic Republic of the Congo has shown mixed reactions to the agreement signed in Washington on Friday: both hope and doubt.
Additionally, the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo have also shown mixed feelings. In the administrative and business center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gombe, almost everyone has heard about the peace agreement signed in the United States. However, the opinions of the people interviewed on the street are varied.
The People of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Long for Peace
In the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a civil servant interviewed on the street, Josué Aton, expressed the view that this may bring something good. He holds a glimmer of hope for the involvement of the United States, especially the involvement of the Trump administration. However, another woman interviewed on the street, Emmanuelle, did not agree. She is a young executive in the banking sector. Emmanuelle believes that if the agreement is not fulfilled, what is the use of signing it again and again?
Additionally, the people interviewed on the street also pay attention to the issue of compensation and reparation for the victims of the occupied areas in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This agreement seems to have not touched upon this issue.
In Goma, North Kivu Province, the city was occupied by rebels this year (January 2025). The reactions of the people interviewed there were also mixed with hope and doubt. In Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, the people can watch the video of the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signing the agreement on Friday through paid information. As a result, social media platforms have become agitated, evaluating the practical significance of this agreement. A local resident said, "What we care about is peace."
Source: rfi
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836218749775872/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.