In an unexpected turn of events, the Doha negotiations, which seemed to have reached a stalemate due to the M23’s accusations against the Congolese government regarding the release of prisoners, have made significant progress.
The two delegations simultaneously issued two statements signaling their commitment to negotiate towards a lasting truce. This sudden resumption raises questions about the factors that allowed this breakthrough.
According to well-informed sources, the United States is believed to have played a catalytic role, exerting significant pressure on both parties. The most intriguing hypothesis concerns Rwanda. In exchange for the withdrawal of its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the cessation of its support for the M23, Washington would reportedly offer Kigali a bilateral agreement for the exploitation of its mineral resources. Rwanda has always denied any involvement in the conflict that is tearing apart eastern DRC.
This perspective is reinforced by the statements of Massad Boulos, senior advisor to the United States for Africa. While he downplayed concerns about US budget cuts impacting humanitarian aid on the continent, affirming that Africa remained “very important” to President Trump, his remarks highlighted the growing economic interest of the United States in the region.
Mr. Boulos revealed that several American companies had expressed interest in exploiting minerals in the DRC, following his recent trip to this country rich in resources such as lithium, crucial for the battery and electric vehicle industry.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi sees this American involvement as an opportunity to quell the violence that has plagued the east of the country for nearly three decades, a region where the influence of Chinese companies in the mining sector is currently predominant.
American interest does not stop at the DRC. Massad Boulos also mentioned his country’s interest in mineral exploration in neighboring Rwanda. However, he clearly conditioned this prospect on the prior withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the DRC and the cessation of support for the M23.
Thus, the resumption of the Doha talks, while welcomed as a step towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in eastern DRC, appears intimately linked to an American strategy aimed at strengthening its economic presence in the region. The potential signing of a mining agreement between Rwanda and the United States could be the keystone of this new dynamic, placing economic stakes at the heart of peace efforts. It remains to be seen whether this approach will bear fruit and whether it will establish lasting stability in a region marked by decades of violence.
Coco Kabwika
