President Donald Trump has just pulled off a diplomatic feat that could reshape Central Africa, announcing a breakthrough treaty between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda amid their brutal, decades-long conflict over precious minerals.
The Washington Examiner reported that Trump revealed on Friday that he, alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, mediated a peace agreement following intense negotiations in Washington, D.C., with the formal signing set for Monday in the nation’s capital.
The conflict, erupting in 2022 when Rwandan forces began backing rebels in Congo, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced countless families, making this deal a potential lifeline for a region scarred by violence.
Trump took to Truth Social to celebrate the achievement, calling it a “wonderful Treaty” that halts a war marked by exceptional bloodshed, one that has raged far longer than many other global conflicts.
Yet, in classic Trump fashion, he didn’t shy away from pointing out the lack of recognition he expects, lamenting that no Nobel Peace Prize will come his way “no matter what I do.”
Let’s be honest—while the prize might elude him, despite five nominations, including a recent one from Pakistan for other peace efforts, the real reward is the hope this deal brings to millions suffering in Central Africa.
The treaty, brokered after days of U.S.-mediated talks, could open doors for American investment in Congo, a nation rich with coltan, cobalt, lithium, copper, and gold—minerals critical for everything from smartphones to weaponry.
But here’s the rub: the rebel group known as the March 23 Movement, or M23, isn’t part of this agreement, and their exclusion could derail the fragile peace.
Analyst Daniel Van Dalen from Signal Risk warned on Thursday that the deal hinges on M23’s compliance, noting their continued push for territorial control despite negotiations.
Adding to the skepticism, Rwanda has denied any ties to M23, yet evidence suggests they may be using the rebels as a front to siphon off Congo’s minerals.
Van Dalen pointed out a suspicious spike in Rwandan mineral exports, far beyond what their own reserves could justify, hinting at potential exploitation under the guise of conflict.
This isn’t just a regional spat—it’s a resource grab, and if the treaty doesn’t address these undercurrents, it risks being little more than a photo op.
The State Department confirmed Rubio will oversee the signing on Monday, a moment that could mark a turning point—or a false start—if the underlying issues persist.
While Trump’s supporters, like Rep. Claudia Tenney, who nominated him for a Nobel in 2024 for Middle East efforts, see this as proof of his peacemaking prowess, critics might argue it’s too soon to declare victory in a region so volatile.
Still, credit where it’s due: Trump’s push for dialogue over destruction, as the State Department hailed his “commitment to conflict resolution,” offers a glimmer of hope in a war-torn corner of the world, even if the road ahead remains rocky.