Direct negotiations between Kinshasa and Kigali: what are the interests of the mediating countries?
While foreign powers are seeking to mediate the crisis in eastern DRC, this assistance is not without its rewards.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the AFC-M23 rebels advance in the provinces of South and North Kivu, whose two capitals they already control, foreign powers are attempting to assist in the search for peace through mediation. But their involvement is not without its rewards.
Each of these states is involved for its own specific interests.
The United States, for example, seeks stability in Central Africa to prevent the arrival of additional migrants on its soil and counter the spread of terrorism.
But Washington is also interested in managing the strategic natural resources that the DRC abounds in.
Jacob Kerstan, director of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kinshasa, believes that "it is quite clear that the United States hopes to gain access to minerals from both sides.
Mr. Boulos was the first to visit Kinshasa after his appointment. And I believe people in Washington attach great importance to this.
Following the logic of Trump and his administration, Trump acts and reacts in this way."
Investment Protection
As for China, which promotes peace and respect for the sovereignty of countries, it would not want to see the conflict spread to the Katanga region, where it has made significant investments in the mining sector, as explained by Christian Géraud Neema, China-Africa expert and editor of the China Global South Project.
He notes that "its involvement goes beyond a desire for peace in the region, but also reflects a desire to see the country stabilized so that the instability in eastern DRC does not spill over into the Katanga region. This explains Beijing's desire to see a peaceful and rapid solution."
Qatar's participation reinforces its status as an internationally renowned negotiator. But its main interest lies in preserving a security climate conducive to conducting business in the Great Lakes region.
According to researcher Ithiel Batumike of the Ebuteli Institute for Research on Politics, Governance and Violence, "We know that Qatar has interests, particularly in Rwanda, where it is already a shareholder in the Rwandan aviation company and in the construction of the international airport there, which is costing billions of dollars.
Peace in the region would benefit its business. Qatar does not have bad relations with Congo."
Félix Tshisekedi denounces media manipulation
Meanwhile, President Félix Tshisekedi is denouncing what he calls media manipulation surrounding the DRC-US partnership on critical minerals.
On Monday, he ruled out any sell-off of his country's resources.
The president asserts that "these allegations are naturally unfounded, but often stem from orchestrated campaigns to weaken our economic sovereignty and undermine our country's strategic repositioning efforts on the world stage.
I want to solemnly reaffirm before you what I have always stood for. Never, ever, would I sell-off the resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo."
But during the discussions in Washington, many foreign mining giants are already showing interest in the DRC's minerals.