Trump Says the U.S. is Close to Brokering Peace Between Congo and Rwanda

The New York Times ^ | May 21, 2025, 5:38 p.m. ET | Ruth Maclean

[E. Pluribus Unum]

After decades of conflict between two African countries, President Trump and an adviser said the two sides, with U.S. help, had created an agreement that was now being finalized.

President Trump claimed on Wednesday that his administration was close to brokering peace in the war between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two African nations with a long history of conflict. He made the remarks at an Oval Office meeting with South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mr. Trump said that Massad Boulos, the State Department’s senior adviser for Africa and the father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, had helped settle the war. Mr. Boulos, who was at the Oval Office meeting, said that Rwanda and Congo had both submitted draft peace agreements that had been evaluated and merged into one by the Trump administration, creating an agreement that was now being finalized.

The conflict between Congo and its much smaller eastern neighbor, Rwanda, has simmered for three decades. The latest invasion of Congo by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia started in late 2021.

In an interview in February, Felix Tshisekedi, the president of Congo, offered the United States and Europe access to his country’s vast mineral wealth while asking for help forcing Rwanda to withdraw from Congo’s east. Mr. Boulos traveled to Congo last month, after which Congo and Rwanda signed a document committing to work toward peace and to cooperate with U.S. investors, especially in mining and infrastructure projects.

Fighting is still raging in eastern Congo, where M23 has seized swaths of territory. During the meeting, Mr. Ramaphosa spoke of various international efforts to achieve a cease-fire, and said that South Africa, which had contributed troops to a regional force, was removing its soldiers so that peace could prevail.

“All efforts, including those...

[ABStrauss]

Just as I suspected.

The UN is not needed any longer. In fact, it wasn’t needed in the first place.

Shut down the building until it can be turned into condo units.

With President Trump the world has one who blazes the trail to peace.

[Fungi]

The UN is not interested in “peace.” It is nothing more than a make work project, grifting off of all countries but especially the US—its intent all along. Cut off all funding to the UN and see fast they squirm and complain.

[lee martell]

If there is a deal struck as expected, don’t anybody tell talk show hostess Nicolle Wallace.
She will unquestionably go Bonkers! (again).

[Jeff Vader]

back in the 60s, Felix would have had a word with one of the mining company execs and Mike Hoare and a company of mercs would have shown to take care of things. would probably have been a lot cheaper than having to give rawanda a bunch of concessions

[cowboyusa]

Give the man his Nobel!

[dfwgator]

Trump should tell them where they can stick their useless prize.

[Jumper]

The Donald needs to distance himself from The Macron and French Surrender Monkies. France overplayed thier hand in Ukraine and they got the boot in Africa. This would funny if it wasn’t so sad; the French “Franc” Empire is collasping, getting a little push here and there from the opposition. Soon France will lose the other 3% of their foreign empire where they strip the local’s of their raw materials in order to pay for the social facist democracy in Paris.

[VanShuyten]

This is how Western thinking that African countries are just like us doesn’t work. For example, the president of the Congo probably has no control over that distant region of the country. Another is that Rwanda has any control over this M23 warlord army.

How can a peace be brokered between two countries that likely have no control over the combatants?

[LadyDoc]

Qatar was also involved in the talks. This happened last week.

China was taking over their mineral resources in exchange for development projects but China did not keep that part of the bargain..so if the area becomes safe western investors could profit.

A lot of this is about the Rwanda genocide refugees.

[FrdmLvr]

Is this really something we need to be focusing on right now?