Editorial: Le Monde

• The long-standing conflict in Eastern Africa's Great Lakes region is of interest to the United States due to its abundance of resources such as rare earths, lithium, tantalum and coltan.
• The conflict involves Rwanda, who has seen economic success but also demonstrated authoritarian and expansionist tendencies, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a massive but decaying state.
• US President Donald Trump has shown interest in acquiring mining rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo in exchange for promoting diplomacy and peace.
• Rwanda's development model is based on stability and a business-friendly climate, making it potentially susceptible to pressures from Washington.
• The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Félix Tshisekedi, is in a state of insecurity and has little control over the mining regions.
• Rwandan leader, Paul Kagame, is unpredictable and his intent on controlling his neighbor's mining resources is concerning.

Conclusion: Donald Trump's intervention in the conflict, whilst possibly motivated by pride and commercial interests rather than purely humanitarian interests, has had an effect on easing the stalemate of the conflict. However, the contradictory messages and changing priorities may prove problematic.

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