Keypoints:
- US brokers peace deal between DRC and Rwanda
- Experts urge focus on governance and rule of law
- Critical minerals link peace to global energy
A HISTORIC US-brokered peace deal between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda is drawing global attention and expert commentary, as Washington seeks to stabilise Central Africa while securing long-term access to critical minerals vital to global supply chains.
Signed in Washington on June 28 by the foreign ministers of both countries, the accord—nicknamed the Washington Accord—was hailed by President Donald Trump as a ‘long time waiting’. The agreement commits both nations to cease hostilities, respect territorial sovereignty, and pave the way for US investment in the DRC’s mineral wealth.
While Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Tshisekedi are expected to formalise the deal at a future White House summit, analysts warn that success will depend on implementation and whether underlying issues—such as militia violence, corruption, and weak institutions—are properly addressed.
A turning point for peace and mineral diplomacy
Frannie Léautier, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Centre, described the agreement as potentially transformative.
‘This is about more than mining,’ Léautier said. ‘It’s about shifting the narrative from conflict to opportunity and creating a mineral corridor built on governance and mutual gain.’
The deal proposes a jointly managed mineral supply route, linking Congolese resources with Rwanda’s infrastructure and US-backed transparency frameworks. If successful, it could become a model for economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), boosting regional growth and clean energy transitions.
A strategic challenge to China’s mineral dominance
According to Tressa Guenov, senior fellow at the Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security, the deal also signals a deliberate US strategy to counter China’s dominance in the DRC’s cobalt and coltan sectors.
‘China currently controls much of the DRC’s cobalt trade—this agreement is a clear signal that the US wants a bigger role,’ she said.
However, Guenov warned that new mineral initiatives risk reinforcing old problems if corruption, exploitation, and environmental harm are not urgently tackled. She also flagged the exclusion of the M23 rebel group, which has seized several eastern cities in recent months, as a major oversight.
‘The risk is that minerals become a shortcut to peace, rather than a reward for it,’ she said. ‘This deal is a strong first step, but without inclusive and transparent follow-through, it could backfire.’
Energy security and African leadership
Alexandria Maloney, senior fellow at the Africa Center, believes the agreement offers a unique convergence of diplomacy, economic development, and climate resilience.
‘This could anchor Africa in the global energy transition by formalising responsible mineral extraction and empowering local stakeholders,’ she noted.
Maloney said the deal aligns with the broader goals of the US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, but warned that fragile governance and poor infrastructure in eastern DRC could undermine its execution. A key risk, she added, is failing to involve local communities and civil society in decision-making processes.
‘This isn’t just about securing supply—it’s about shaping a new model for how fragile, resource-rich nations are engaged on the world stage.’
Rule of law as the gateway to prosperity
For Will Mortenson, from the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Centre, the deal offers the DRC a chance to finally capitalise on its vast natural wealth—but only if it enforces the rule of law.
‘Eastern DRC has long been paralysed by violence, and that’s kept the country among the poorest in Sub-Saharan Africa,
’ Mortenson said.
According to the 2025 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes, the DRC ranks 154th out of 164 countries for legal integrity. Without substantial reforms to its judiciary and anti-corruption systems, Mortenson warned that foreign investment will remain risky—and citizens will continue to be excluded from economic benefits.
‘To move from peace to prosperity, the DRC must build credible institutions that protect people, not just profits,’ he said.
Cautious optimism as implementation begins
The US-facilitated deal has been welcomed by observers as a long-overdue diplomatic breakthrough in one of Africa’s deadliest and most complex conflicts. Yet experts agree that the accord’s real test lies ahead.
Key next steps include:
- Robust US diplomatic and technical support
- Inclusive local leadership and oversight
- Transparent monitoring and conflict resolution frameworks
As global powers vie for influence in Africa’s resou
rce-rich corridors, the DRC–Rwanda peace deal represents both a geopolitical gamble and a chance to reset the terms of engagement—from extraction to equitable development.
