President Donald Trump is set to host the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda on Thursday for a deal-signing the White House says could help end the long-running conflict in eastern Congo—while also opening new opportunities for U.S. access to the region’s critical minerals and for American companies to compete there.
The event gives Trump another high-profile moment on the international stage to showcase his negotiation-first approach to foreign policy. Trump has frequently pointed to his efforts to reduce tensions in some of the world’s most difficult conflicts and has openly said he believes those outcomes merit consideration for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump will welcome Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Washington, along with officials from other African nations attending as witnesses. The signing comes during the same week Trump sharply criticized Somalia and reiterated his hardline stance on immigration.
The White House is describing the pact as a “historic” agreement brokered by Trump. It follows months of peace efforts involving the U.S. and international partners, including the African Union and Qatar, and it finalizes an earlier deal signed in June.
