Washington DC [US], December 5 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) hosted the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to sign a Washington-brokered peace treaty aimed at ending a 30-year conflict, and opening the region’s vast critical mineral reserves for American companies.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi affirmed their commitment to adhere to the deal, despite suggesting a “demanding” path ahead.
As the leaders signed the deal, President Donald Trump called it a “great day for Africa.”
“It is an amazing day, a great day for Africa, a great day for the world and for these two countries,” Trump said. “And they have so much to be proud of,” he said.
This development comes after a preliminary pact was signed in June this year to end the violence. However, fighting continues on the ground with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who recently captured the key Congo cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Trump also pointed out that this deal opens a gateway for Washington to rare-earth minerals in Central Africa.
“There’s tremendous wealth in those in that beautiful earth,” he said, referring to rare-earth minerals in Central Africa. “It’s a beautiful Earth, but it was stained badly with blood.”
“We’ll be involved with sending some of our biggest and greatest companies over to the two countries,” Trump added. “And we’re going to take out some of the rare earth, take out some of the assets and pay. Everybody is going to make a lot of money.”
Eastern Congo is rich in gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum, while Congo is the world’s biggest cobalt producer and the second-largest source of copper.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame clarified if the agreement falters, then the responsibility lies with both nations.
“”If this agreement falters and things do not work out as they are supposed to, the responsibility will not lie with (US) President (Donald) Trump, but with ourselves,” he said.
“There will be ups and downs on the road ahead,” Kagame continued. “There is no doubt about it. Rwanda, I know, will not be found wanting. I can assure you of that.”
DRC President Felix Tshisekedi hailed the deal, calling it “the beginning of a new path,” mentioning the difficulties that lie ahead.
“I do believe this day is the beginning of a new path, a demanding path, yes, indeed, quite difficult, but this is a path where peace will not just be a wish and aspiration, but a turning point,” he said.
The violence in the eastern Congo is tied to the aftermath of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, which killed up to 1 million people. The members of the Hutu militia fled into eastern Congo, triggering security concerns for Rwanda. Over the years, tensions deepened as Rwanda repeatedly accused the DRC of sheltering hostile armed groups like the FDLR, while Kinshasa accused Kigali of backing rebel factions such as the M23. (ANI)
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