Donald Trump and Elon Musk—with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

🇺🇸 1. Trump’s Deal‑Making in Congo & Rwanda

• U.S.-brokered peace accord: On June 27, 2025, Trump and Secretary Rubio facilitated a peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda in Washington, pledging troop withdrawals, ending support for armed groups, and launching economic cooperation tied to mineral exports
• Minerals for stability: The deal includes provisions granting U.S. investments access to minerals like coltan, lithium, cobalt, framed as a strategy to counter China and incentivize peace
• Criticism & caution: Experts warn that without the inclusion of rebel groups like M23, the accord risks being a hollow, resource-centric “transactional peace” .

🤝 2. Trump & Musk: Interwoven Agendas

• Musk inside the administration:
  • Appointed by Trump to co-chair the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)” to cut bureaucracy .
  • Played a pivotal role in the Trump‑backed effort to dismantle USAID, citing it as beyond reform; this resulted in the removal of the USAID acting head .
• Croneyism & tech influence?:
  • Reports highlight how the Department of State pressured African governments to facilitate Starlink openings—raising potential conflict-of-interest concerns
  • Musk has leveraged his influence to push U.S. foreign policy—seen in his role with South Africa and Trump’s land-aid threats .

🌍 Why It Matters for Congo & Rwanda

• Geostrategic shift: By tying peace to mineral access, the U.S.–under Trump–Musk is stepping into the global scramble for critical resources, challenging Chinese dominance .
• Concerns over policy motives: Critics say the approach prioritizes commercial interest over justice and long-term conflict resolution.
• Growing tech‑state synergy: Musk’s policy leverage, including aid cuts and expansion of Starlink, signals a fusion of private business interests deeply embedded within U.S. foreign policy.

🧭 Bottom Line

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