“Rwanda and Congo signed a peace agreement with the support of Trump. The US will get priority in developing Congo’s resources.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Photo: screenshot from the video of the agreement signing ceremony Source: BloombergState Department
Trump’s direct speech: “We are gathered at the United States Institute of Peace to sign a historic agreement that will end one of the world’s greatest conflicts. It is a great day, a great day for the United States, for the world, and for these two countries.”
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Details: The US and Congo also signed a partnership agreement to create a strategic reserve of critical mineral resources, gold assets and unexplored geological sites as part of a series of agreements related to the peace treaty.
According to the agreement published on the website of the State Department, the Congo will give priority to American companies in holding tenders for the development of deposits. The two countries will also consider creating a strategic mineral stockpile to ensure anticipated supplies of critical minerals, including cobalt, to the United States.
The peace deal is understood to have been in the works for months after the US intervened in the conflict, which threatened Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi’s government with an offensive by Rwandan-backed rebels. However, the situation remains tense in eastern Congo, with M23 rebels still controlling large areas and capturing new towns and villages.
Asked when countries can expect an end to hostilities and a real lasting peace, Trump said: “I think you’re going to see very immediate results.”
However, Bloomberg journalists noted that it is not yet known whether the signing of the agreement will resolve the 30-year-old conflict, which continues to escalate.
After all, on Wednesday, the peace agreement was already in jeopardy after Congo complained that the M23 was continuing to advance. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said Rwanda “does not want peace” but only access to Congo’s natural resources.
Eastern Congo is rich in gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum, which are found in most portable electronics. Congo is also the world’s largest producer of cobalt and the second largest source of copper.
Prehistory:
- In June, the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed a peace agreement between the two countries.