As Presidents Zelensky and Trump meet at the White House to discuss Ukraine's mineral-for-security deal, I am publishing this timely analysis examining the parallel developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Felix Tshisekedi's recent proposal to offer the United States and European nations preferential access to the DRC's critical mineral wealth in exchange for military intervention against Rwanda-backed rebels represents more than mere diplomatic maneuvering.
It signals a deeply concerning regression to colonial-era resource extraction patterns, undermining decades of Pan-African aspirations for genuine sovereignty and self-determination.
This policy commentary examines the historical precedents, political constraints, and strategic implications of what appears to be a pernicious reaction to security challenges rather than a sustainable path toward peace and development.
