Trump mediates Congo-Rwanda talks, touts a fresh diplomatic win
US President Donald Trump has claimed once again to have brokered a Congo-Rwanda peace deal on December 4, amid continued clashes in Eastern Congo, where both sides affirmed to adhere to the terms outlined in the current and previous deal, Reuters reported on December 4.
The Congo-Rwanda peace deal is the latest in Trump’s prime-time diplomacy, where he sees opportunity in Congo’s mineral reserves, in their race against China for resource dominance. Claiming to stop a war that has been going on for decades, he says, “They spent a lot of time killing each other, and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands, and taking advantage of the United States of America economically – like every other country does.”
Congo’s mineral-rich eastern border with Rwanda has more than 100 armed groups trying to get access to it, of which the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels are the most dominant. The conflict has displaced over 7 million people and seen a significant number of deaths as a result.
The deal signing by both parties “recommits the parties to the peace process,” after “months of intensive diplomacy led by President Trump, who made it clear to both the DRC and Rwanda that the status quo was unacceptable,” a White House official claimed.
Trump has also put his name on the building of the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C, after the Congo-Rwanda deal signing, where his State Department referred to him as “the greatest dealmaker in our nation’s history”.
Under the December agreement backed by Trump, Congo was tasked with addressing the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, an anti-M23 group, while Rwanda pledged to withdraw its forces from Congo. Limited progress has been evident on both fronts since the last deal made in June and an attempt in September.
Both DR Congo and Rwanda have accused each other of trying to sabotage peace deals. While Rwanda denies backing the M23 rebels, who claim they are protecting Tutsi ethnic minorities, Congo has said its army has been attacked in Eastern Congo regions by the M23 rebel group repeatedly.
Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, praised Trump’s effort, “We have seen countless mediations and efforts, but none has succeeded in resolving the underlying issues,” adding that, “President Trump introduced a new and effective dynamism that created the space for breakthroughs.”
Whereas, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi called the Trump-backed Congo-Rwanda deal a “turning point” in the peace efforts.
Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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