In a move echoing his deal-making approach, President Donald Trump is spearheading a controversial peace initiative in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), a nation brimming with minerals vital for the US tech sector. The initiative aims to resolve the decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo, a region also entangled with neighboring Rwanda.

Trump plans to host Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the White House in the coming weeks, hoping to solidify a peace agreement and pave the way for increased US investment in the mineral-rich nation. The President has reportedly touted the potential deal as a "glorious triumph."

However, the initiative is not without its critics. Alex de Waal, executive director of the US-based World Peace Foundation, characterizes the administration's strategy as a "new model of peace-making, combining a populist performance with commercial deal-making." He drew parallels with Trump's approach in Ukraine, suggesting the President seeks both political gains and access to strategic resources.

De Waal notes that the US faces an uphill battle in DR Congo, where China has already secured significant access to key minerals. He explained US companies have historically been wary of investing in DR Congo due to security concerns and the ethical dilemmas associated with "blood minerals" that fuel conflict. The Trump administration's peace model, however, may shift this dynamic.

While acknowledging the potential benefits of ending the long-standing conflict, which has claimed countless lives and displaced millions, some experts caution against potential pitfalls. Hanri Mostert, a mineral law academic at the University of Cape Town, warns that DR Congo "risked compromising sovereignty over its minerals" in exchange for potentially hollow security assurances.

Mostert fears DR Congo could become locked into long-term agreements, echoing the resource-bartering deals pursued by China and Russia in other African nations. She cited the example of Angola, where Chinese infrastructure projects were financed with Angolan oil. "Even when oil prices went up, Angola couldn't get more value for it," she cautioned. The success and long-term impact of Trump's gamble in DR Congo remain to be seen.