Desperate for Peace Congo President Appeals to Trump, Offers $20 Trillion in Minerals

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March 24, 2025

As Africa faces a modern scramble for its resources, with China and Russia carving up the continent’s wealth through investments and influence, a surprising twist emerges from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). President Félix Tshisekedi has formally requested U.S. President Donald Trump’s help to secure peace, dangling access to the DRC’s $20 trillion mineral trove as bait—an intriguing counter-move in this geopolitical chess game.

The proposal, outlined in a February 2025 letter and backed by reports from The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and Reuters, offers a minerals-for-security deal. The DRC, rich in cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum, seeks U.S. support to defeat the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who control key eastern territories. With China dominating Congo’s mining sector and Russia expanding its footprint across Africa, Tshisekedi’s pivot to Trump could disrupt their grip, aligning with the U.S.’s new Sovereign Wealth Fund ambitions.

“Your election has ushered in a golden age for America,” Tshisekedi wrote, per The Wall Street Journal.

In a Fox News interview with Bret Baier, he pitched a dual vision: U.S. aid to end unrest while processing minerals locally for jobs. On March 17, Reuters confirmed Tshisekedi met U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson, a Trump envoy, to discuss investment and stability.

The DRC’s mineral wealth, valued up to $24 trillion by the Panzi Foundation, is a global prize. Yet, rebel control and foreign dominance pose risks. With no deal finalized, this bold offer could mark Trump’s first 2025 foreign policy coup—or a misstep in Africa’s complex power play. As China and Russia tighten their hold, America’s response could redefine the continent’s future. Stay tuned.