DR Congo: Trump's raw materials deal becomes more concrete

On Jan. 27, 2025, the M23 rebel movement announced the capture of Goma, the regional capital of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. One year on, the economic and humanitarian situation in the region has further deteriorated. US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative has done little to alter this trajectory. Instead, it has increasingly centered on access to strategic raw materials.

Last updated: 27. January 2026