Minerals over Peace? Rethinking the DRC-Rwanda Accord

Aug 8, 2025 | Batseba Seifu
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On June 27, 2025, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda signed what has been touted as a significant peace agreement in Washington, DC—a deal mediated and facilitated by the United States. Heralded by diplomats as a landmark step toward ending decades of instability and conflict in eastern Congo, the accord outlines a framework for regional economic cooperation and Western investment. But for those of us watching the region’s history unfold with sobering familiarity, the fanfare around the deal feels less like a celebration of peace and more like the rollout of a new phase in the global scramble for African resources.