Reuters: US wants to extract minerals in Africa if Congo and Rwanda make peace Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten

The United States is exploring the possibility of investing in mineral extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, contingent on a peace agreement between the two Central African nations, Reuters reports, citing multiple diplomatic and U.N. sources.

According to journalists familiar with the talks, Washington is particularly interested in the mining of tin, tantalum, and tungsten in eastern DRC — a region long mired in violence and illicit resource trade. Under a proposed arrangement, these minerals would be legally transported to Rwanda for processing and subsequent export.

Three sources briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that a U.S.-brokered peace deal currently under discussion could formalize this arrangement, transforming mineral flows that have for years fueled conflict and illicit profit into a potential engine for regional stability and economic growth.

Kinshasa has long accused Kigali of backing the M23 rebel group and smuggling tens of millions of dollars worth of minerals each month across the border. The exploitation of DRC’s vast mineral wealth, particularly in areas controlled by armed groups, is widely seen as a major driver of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country.

“Their [Washington's] point of view is simple: If Rwanda can legitimately benefit from Congo's minerals through processing, it will be less tempted to occupy its neighbour and plunder its minerals,” one diplomat familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, confirmed earlier this month that Washington is actively pushing for a peace agreement to be signed this summer. That deal would include mineral sector cooperation, with the aim of drawing billions of dollars in Western investment to both countries.

Two diplomatic sources and one U.N. official said the current proposal would see minerals from eastern Congo’s largely artisanal mining zones processed and marketed from Rwanda — a move that could significantly reshape the region’s contentious supply chains.

Supporters of the plan argue that industrialization would not only increase state revenues and improve mineral traceability but also weaken the armed groups that currently profit from the chaos in eastern Congo.

However, the Congolese government remains wary. A senior Congolese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no cooperation on minerals is possible without the full withdrawal of Rwandan troops and “their proxies,” referring to M23 forces that currently control more territory than ever before in the region.

The DRC, the United Nations, and the United States have repeatedly accused Rwanda of exploiting Congolese mineral resources illegally — allegations Kigali has consistently denied.

As negotiations continue, the prospect of U.S. investment adds a new dimension to long-standing regional tensions, raising both hopes for peace and concerns about the implications of legitimizing contested trade routes.

For the record, Rwanda and the DRC have experienced decades of strained relations, often inflamed by militia activity and disputes over natural resources. The eastern Congo remains one of the richest but most volatile mining zones in the world, with its mineral wealth fueling local militias, regional rivalries, and global supply chains alike.

By Khagan Isayev