CSIS Commentary by Mvemba Phezo Dizolele
Published June 27, 2025
On Friday, June 27, in Washington, D.C., 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.
Initiated by Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, this agreement comes amid renewed insecurity caused by the resurgence of the March 23 Movement (M23) militia, which since 2022 has seized significant territory in North and South Kivu provinces, including the strategic cities of Goma and Bukavu. These provinces are not only home to millions of civilians but also hold some of the world’s richest deposits of rare earth minerals—essential for everything from electric vehicles to smartphones.
Despite the diplomatic celebrations, the deal raises questions. While mineral wealth is a driver of the conflict, it is not the root cause of the violence. For decades, violence in the eastern DRC has been fueled by a combination of regional power struggles, historical grievances, poor governance, land and citizenship disputes, and competition for resources.
Both President Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, will be conspicuously absent from the signing ceremony. This is an unusual development, considering the importance of the agreement. The two leaders plan to meet with President Donald Trump later.