Almost four months afta Donald Trump praise di June 27 agreement wey Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sign as "wonderful treaty" and "glorious triumph," di peace wey dem promise no show for ground.
For di eastern part of Congo, M23 rebels, wey UN reports don link to cross-border support, still dey occupy di area. Civilians still dey die, and di flow of minerals no change much, even wit all di big talk. Dis no be just di agreement wey fail, but e show how diplomacy fit cover di real wahala of exploitation.
On October 14, 2025, DRC government and M23 rebel group sign deal for Doha to create cease-fire monitoring body. E be small step forward, but di matter of troop withdrawal still dey hang. Meanwhile, Trump dey see himself as one kind savior when e talk say e end 35 years war, wey e call Africa "deepest and darkest place."
But di truth be say, Trump no just dey misinformed, e dey push one convenient lie. Congo wahala no be tribal fight of "savages" wey dey kill each other. Na foreign powers, including di United States, wey don dey engineer and continue di crisis for decades. From di CIA hand for di 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba to di long support wey Washington give Mobutu Sese Seko, external powers don shape Congo tragedy.
Since Congo gain independence, na stage for proxy conflicts and resource plunder. Di current crisis no be new war, na di latest chapter for di long struggle wey dey happen.
Di shadow of Leopold and America silence for profit
Over 100 years ago, King Leopold II of Belgium use Congo as e personal property. E kill about 10 million Congolese as dem dey extract ivory and rubber through wicked methods like mutilation, rape, and mass killings. Severed hands even turn punishment currency.
At first, American missionaries and activists dey shout against di atrocities. People like Mark Twain and E.D. Morel help di Congo Reform movement. But when American financiers see opportunity to make money, di moral outrage turn to silence. By 1906, J.P. Morgan, Thomas Fortune Ryan, and di Guggenheims don secure di American Congo Company and later Forminière, a mining monopoly.
Even as some people for US dey condemn di crimes, American capital dey ensure say di atrocities continue as long as minerals and profits dey flow.
Foreign exploitation, then and now
Today, history dey repeat itself. Wetin dem do through colonial charters before, now dey happen through shadow economy—illegal trade of minerals, arms, and people. For eastern Congo, di system dey mix survival and crime. E no be say state no dey, but na parallel system wey profit dey control power and violence dey act as governance.
For years, Washington no send Congo wahala even as millions die for wars and displacement. But now, as cobalt and lithium dey power di global green transition, di U.S. suddenly wan "broker peace." Congo resources dey feed global markets, but di people still dey suffer.
Di regional dynamics behind DRC war economy
Di nine-point agreement between Rwanda and DRC no address di main conflict. E no talk about di withdrawal of foreign troops or di stop of external support to rebel groups like M23. Di deal dey favor Rwanda position as dem dey talk say na security concern. But regional and UN reports don show say di conflict get economic side, especially di control of mineral-rich areas.
As long as di war economy dey profitable, peace go remain political slogan. Each mine or checkpoint wey rebels control dey generate money wey dey fuel di instability.
Qatar involvement dey relevant here. Dem dey mediate separate deal wit M23, but di rebel group no dey serious. Dem go sit for table sometimes, but dem go waka comot. Meanwhile, for ground, dem still dey kill civilians anyhow. Qatar don pledge $22 billion investment for DRC, showing interest for Africa resource sector. But di dual role of diplomacy and economic interest dey make di matter more complicated.
Why "peacebuilding" na really profit-building
Cobalt, lithium, and copper dey important for global energy transition. Over 70% of di world cobalt dey Congo, mostly for conflict areas. China dey dominate di sector, Russia dey expand through private military companies, and America dey frame dia presence as "peacebuilding."
Ironically, U.S. fit meet dia mineral needs domestically. One study for Science journal show say di cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements wey U.S. need dey already dey mined as byproducts for dia operations. Di problem no be availability, but profitability. E cheaper to exploit Congo chaos than to invest for ethical mining at home.
Di so-called peace dey superficial. America dey gain cheap minerals, avoid environmental cost of mining for dia country, and dey compete wit China. But di real victims na Congolese people wey dey suffer for war wey dey benefit others. Dis war no be simple fight between neighbors, but proxy conflict wey dey keep Congo unstable so exploitation go continue.
Even as di international community dey silent, Congolese activists and citizens dey resist. Dem dey raise dia voice and demand justice. But di world dey look di other way, dey use dia smartphones and laptops wey Congo minerals dey power, and dem no wan hear.
Disclaimer: Di views wey di author express no necessarily reflect di opinions, viewpoints, and editorial policies of TRT Afrika.
