Critical Minerals, Fragile Peace: The DRC-Rwanda Deal and the Cost of Ignoring Root Causes

Jun 27, 2025 | Mvemba Phezo Dizolele
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On Friday, June 27, in Washington, DC, the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to sign the Critical Minerals for Security and Peace Deal, a United States–brokered agreement aimed at calming tensions in a region affected by violence and resource exploitation. This historic accord, which seeks to stabilize the eastern DRC, is the product of months of quiet diplomacy led by Massad Boulos, the U.S. special adviser for Africa. Its objective is to facilitate cooperation over the extraction and trade of rare earth minerals in exchange for security to offset China’s dominance in this sector.