" Experts react: The DRC and Rwanda agreed to a US-backed peace deal. Can critical minerals help end this conflict?" 27 June 2025

According to Frannie Léautier, this agreement, focused on responsibly sourcing and processing critical minerals, is about much more than mining. It is about recasting the narrative of Central Africa—from one of endless conflict to one of integrated opportunity. And it comes at a time when the world is racing toward a clean energy future that must be built not just with sustainable materials but with shared values. [...] For the African continent, the most exciting prospect may be the acceleration of regional integration. This trilateral deal strengthens the case for the African Continental Free Trade Area by showing that cross-border cooperation is not only possible—it is strategic. The mineral corridor envisioned in this agreement could become a backbone for industrial zones, green energy clusters, and cross-border infrastructure linking East, Central, and Southern Africa. It also opens the door for a new kind of diplomacy: one grounded not in competition for resources, but in shared stewardship. If successful, this model could be adapted elsewhere—from Guinea and Liberia to Mozambique and Tanzania.

For Tressa Guenov, the deal hinges on what is by now a familiar theme with the Trump administration: access to critical minerals for the United States. Chances are the device you are reading this on contains rare materials such as tantalum, tungsten, or coltan mined in the DRC or Rwanda. Critical minerals from these countries also go into nearly every form of high-end defense equipment manufactured today. But technology is not without consequences. Funds from the mines that extract these valuable metals have been diverted toward fueling the conflict and associated corruption. China, which holds a monopoly over the DRC’s vast cobalt industry, will be watching this deal closely, as it too has a rapacious demand for critical minerals for its processing industry and for commercial and defense applications. China has reportedly supplied weapons to both the DRC and Rwanda. The deal could test China’s ability to navigate the region. Russia also has a strong history with the DRC and will surely be at the ready with misinformation about US intentions with the deal.  Paradoxically, if not carefully managed, any new critical mineral extraction and access that the United States seeks from the deal could further perpetuate the factors that have enabled the conflict to endure for so long (such as child labor, corruption, devastating violence, and environmental plunder). The nature of US participation in the long-term diplomatic and economic implementation of the deal is unclear. It will be made harder by the recent cuts to the US capacity for aid and development programs, which would be a vital tool in assisting with peacebuilding. The inclusion of women, who have suffered greatly in this conflict, and other disenfranchised groups will also be crucial for securing a lasting peace. Today’s announcement is an essential step in the right direction. Now the real work begins.  And for Alexandria Maloney, optimism must be tempered with realism. The deal will be vulnerable if systemic challenges remain unaddressed. Fragile governance structures in eastern DRC, particularly weak institutional capacity and fragmented local authority, could undercut enforcement or public trust. If the agreement leans too heavily on extraction without corresponding investment in infrastructure, human capital, or environmental safeguards, it may risk deepening economic disparities rather than resolving them. Additionally, China’s entrenched footprint in the DRC’s mining sector may complicate implementation and heighten geopolitical tensions. Perhaps most critically, the exclusion of local communities or civil society organizations from negotiations could foster resentment and erode legitimacy, leading to long-term instability. [...]