U.S. Military Engagement with DRC: A Shift in Regional Power which Congolese believe That it Gives Kagame Sleepless Nights

 

In a major geopolitical shift, a high-level U.S. military delegation recently met with DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, reinforcing military and economic ties between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This development has reportedly left Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his long-time allies deeply unsettled, as it threatens the illicit networks they have used to plunder Congo’s minerals for decades.

Strengthening U.S.-DRC Military Ties

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) delegation, led by Ambassador Andrew Young and Rear Admiral Heidi Berg, met with top Congolese officials to discuss regional security and military cooperation. This visit is a significant step forward in strengthening the Congolese military and addressing security concerns, particularly in Eastern Congo, where Kagame's regime has been linked to armed rebel groups that destabilize the region.

The military cooperation focuses on:

✔ Strengthening the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to counter rebel movements.

✔ Enhancing security and intelligence sharing between the U.S. and DRC.

✔ Promoting human rights and reducing foreign exploitation of DRC’s resources.

This has rattled Kigali, as Kagame’s survival has long depended on the chaos in Eastern Congo, which allows his network of elites and Western allies to exploit DRC’s vast mineral wealth unchecked.

The Fight for Congo’s Mineral Wealth

Beyond military cooperation, the U.S. has expressed interest in securing critical mineral partnerships with the DRC. The Congo is home to massive reserves  cobalt, lithium, and other strategic minerals, which are vital for modern technology, electric vehicles, and defense industries.

✔ The U.S. is actively looking to reduce reliance on China and secure direct partnerships with the DRC.

✔ This threatens the long-standing mineral theft networks led by Kagame’s regime, which has illegally benefited from smuggled Congolese resources for years.

✔ With a potential new U.S.-DRC partnership, Kagame and his allies fear losing access to the billions they’ve made off Congo’s suffering.

A State Department spokesperson recently confirmed that the U.S. is open to fair and transparent mineral deals with the DRC, signaling a new era of economic diplomacy that excludes those who have profited from conflict-driven smuggling networks.

Why do Congolese think that This Gives Kagame Sleepless Nights

According to studies from Congolese political arenas give the following reasons for this belief:

Kagame’s entire regional influence has been built on:

Backing rebel groups like M23 to maintain instability in Eastern Congo.

Exploiting stolen Congolese minerals by funneling them through Rwanda as "legitimate exports."

Relying on Western support (particularly from past Democratic administrations) to shield him from accountability.

This new U.S.-DRC relationship under Tshisekedi’s leadership could break Kagame’s grip on Congo’s resources and expose his long-standing exploitation network. With Trump’s influence behind these negotiations, there is a real possibility that U.S. policy in the region could shift away from Kagame’s regime, disrupting his financial and military backing.

The Road to True Peace

While these developments are promising, true peace in the Great Lakes region remains impossible as long as:

Paul Kagame remains in power in Rwanda, continuing his destabilizing tactics.

The Hutu majority in Rwanda is sidelined, preventing true reconciliation and stability.

For Tshisekedi to secure lasting peace in Congo, he must push for regime change in Rwanda, ensuring a government that represents the majority Hutu population, which has historically maintained peaceful relations with its neighbors. Without a change in power in Kigali, Rwanda will continue to be the epicenter of regional instability.

A Defining Moment for the Region

With the U.S. military and economic interests shifting toward the DRC, the balance of power in the region is changing. Kagame and his allies no longer have a blank check to operate freely. If these new partnerships lead to tighter security, economic transparency, and a crackdown on illicit mineral smuggling, it could reshape the future of Central Africa—but only if Tshisekedi seizes this moment to push for real change.

The question remains: Will Tshisekedi take bold steps to secure Congo’s future, or will Kagame’s influence continue to sabotage peace?