The involvement of the USA in peacekeeping efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may deepen the isolation of Rwanda which has already been sanctioned by some of its key allies over their backing of the M23 rebel group currently fighting over to takeover the country.
With M23 having already taken large parts of Eastern DRC including the provincial capital Goma, President Felix Tshishekedi has extended an invitation to Western powers to take up mineral rights in his country in return for providing security, a move that if successful may result in Rwanda being deprived of the precious metals it has relied on to prop its economy amid consistent denial that it was looting the resources from its neighbour.
“ Speaking on Sunday, Presidential Spokesperson Tina Salama urged the US to “directly buy critical minerals” from Kinshasa rather than sourcing “looted” and “smuggled” resources through Rwanda. She extended the same appeal to Europe and other buyers, emphasising that the DRC is the “true owner” of these valuable commodities.
“President Tshisekedi invites the USA, whose companies source strategic raw materials from Rwanda, materials that are looted from the DRC and smuggled to Rwanda while our populations are massacred, to purchase them directly from us the rightful owners,” said Tina Salama, Tshisekedi’s spokesperson this week.
Several US based publications are quoting highly placed White House sources as believing President Donald Trump as being ‘keen’ on taking up the offer despite having campaigned on a ticket of reducing the USA’s military presence in parts of the world that he regarded as costly.
Trump has consistently said the USA was being ripped off by its perceived allies and has already withdrawn funding for various causes it was part of including the war in Ukraine.
With Trump remaining steadfast, Ukraine president Vladimir Zelensky has since backtracked on his refusal and indicated a willingness to sign away mineral rights to Washington.
Tshisekedi’s offer comes follows the imposition of sanctions by the US on senior Rwandan military officer James Kabarebe who is also the country’s defence minister and regarded by Washington to be a middleman between the Kigali regime and M23.
Should the US intervene, Rwanda will not have access to Congolese minerals and by implication, M23 may find it harder to continue its march to the capital Kingshasa which sits more than 2000 kilometres from the east where the rebel group is currently stationed.
Almost all of Rwanda’s European backers have since abondoned the country. These includes the United Kingdom which like the rest of them has cited the East African country’s aggression against DRC for the decision.
Rwanda continues to denies the theft of Congolese minerals and claimed its interest in the conflict which dates back to 2003 was based purely on national security concerns. Kigali has claimed DRC is harbouring and arming groups responsible for the 1994 genocide that saw the killing of almost a million ethnic Tutsis and resulted in the displacement of more than 200 000.
“It doesn’t matter who you are. I am not seeking any favor from anybody in this room to be given permission for me to live or for my people to live? Absolutely not. I will live by the fact that it is my right. Just that. So, when I am listening to some people saying these things; when does Congo take responsibility for its own mess? How does Congo think all their problems come from outside, and therefore they outsource solutions for their problems? Rwanda has nothing to do with Congo’s problems. We have our own problems to deal with. Congo is too big for Rwanda to carry on its back. As I told you, we are a small country, we are a poor country, but when it comes to the right to live, don’t you be mistaken. I am not begging, I will not beg anyone,” said Kagame during a recent media briefing referring to his response to the AU peace and security commission.
Also this week claimed those accusing Rwanda of theft of minerals in the DRC were themselves engaged in questionable dealings with the Kingshasa regime. He has previously singled out South Africa as involved in similar operations, an allegation denied by Pretoria with the government stating all South Africans involved in mining in DRC and elsewhere on the African continent were operating legitimate business.
The controversy surrounding mining in the DRC has also led to the naming and shaming of responsible companies which saw Aple pulling out of the country after footage emerged of forced labour including children in the mining of cobalt and lithium.
The isolation of Rwanda has resulted in the cancellation of public relations campaigns aimed at convincing wealthy citizens of the west to visit the tiny landlocked country.
Meanwhile Trump’s trigger happy approach which has seen him making and announcing decisions off the cuff is causing panic in diplomatic circles with governments concerned he’s unpredictable.
