White House finalizes African mineral, peace deal

By Hannah Northey | 06/27/2025 04:16 PM EDT

The agreement has drawn Republican support but skepticism among Democrats and activists who say there’s too little information.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center) stands with Olivier Nduhungirehe (left), who is shaking hands with Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center) stands with Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (left) and Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner as they shake hands after signing a peace agreement at the State Department on Friday in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP

President Donald Trump on Friday finalized an agreement to quell fighting across Africa and boost U.S. access to the mineral-rich Congo amid congressional concerns and demands for more information.

The president, flanked by foreign ministers from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, signed a peace treaty that he said will end more than three decades of conflict that’s led to about 6 million deaths.

“I think both of you have said ‘that’s enough,’” Trump said at the White House ceremony, nodding to the ministers of the two countries.

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Noticeably missing were Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two leaders would be in Washington to sign the deal at a ceremony later this month. Trump signed letters inviting the leaders to the White House.

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