Essex Files: Rubio’s Peace Coup in Central Africa: America’s Smart Power Strikes Back

In early May, I wrote about a quiet but historic breakthrough—one that barely registered on most radars but carried the kind of geopolitical weight rarely seen in our era of performative diplomacy. The United States, through the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had brokered a framework between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that hinted at something almost unthinkable: peace in a region long synonymous with conflict, exploitation, and chaos.

Now, just weeks later, that framework has matured into a full-fledged peace accord. And let me say this clearly: this is a huge win for American foreign policy—led not by the State Department's usual bureaucrats, but by a Republican senator with grit, clarity, and spine.

Rubio isn’t getting the ticker-tape parade he deserves, of course. That would require the mainstream media to acknowledge that a Republican delivered a diplomatic masterstroke. But let’s not let their silence drown out the facts. The peace deal—initialed this week and set for official signing on June 27—commits both Rwanda and the DRC to disengage and disarm, establish joint security, and allow displaced refugees to return. In short: a roadmap to end decades of bloodshed.

Make no mistake, this wasn’t accomplished with empty platitudes or some kumbaya mediation circle. This was hard power diplomacy, built on leverage, mutual interest, and behind-the-scenes pressure—especially after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels unleashed chaos earlier this year, displacing tens of thousands and killing U.N. peacekeepers. When the DRC effectively lost control of its eastern territories, it came to the U.S. not for charity, but with an offer: Help us get our country back, and we’ll give you access to the resources that fuel the global economy. Call it realpolitik. Call it deal-making. I call it leadership.

The stakes here go far beyond regional security. The DRC holds some of the largest untapped reserves of cobalt, lithium, gold, and copper in the world—resources the West desperately needs to fuel everything from electric vehicles to data centers. Until now, those minerals have been soaked in blood and chaos. Rwanda, for its part, has played both arsonist and firefighter—backing the M23 rebels while also posing as a stabilizer in the region. The U.S. Treasury was right to slap sanctions on Rwandan officials like James Kabarebe, whose dual roles as government minister and mineral profiteer exemplify the dark underbelly of this conflict.

The Agreement includes provisions on respect for territorial integrity and a prohibition of hostilities; disengagement, disarmament, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups....etc https://t.co/KX0e9GSKbF
— Child of Africa 🌍🇹🇿🇧🇮🇨🇩🇰🇪🇷🇼🇺🇬 (@MutesiAngekendr) June 19, 2025

But what changed? Pressure. Diplomacy with teeth. And a sense of purpose that had been missing from American foreign policy for far too long.

In my previous column, I called this deal a “billion-dollar boost” for America’s strategic position. That’s truer now than ever. This isn’t just about helping others—it’s about helping ourselves while restoring peace. It’s about countering Chinese influence in Africa, securing the raw materials we need for the 21st century, and proving that American power still means something.

The Rubio-led deal isn’t a magic wand. There will be setbacks. Bad actors don’t reform overnight. But for once, we’re not just reacting—we’re shaping events. That’s what leadership looks like.

And maybe, just maybe, this marks the beginning of a new conservative foreign policy—one that isn’t afraid to get involved, but insists on results. One that recognizes you can’t tweet your way to peace, and that diplomacy only works when backed by strength, strategy, and skin in the game.

The media may ignore it. The Biden White House may quietly claim credit. But history will remember who did the hard work. Marco Rubio didn’t just broker a deal—he showed the world that America isn’t done leading yet.

And in this fractured world, that’s a legacy worth defending.

Editor's Note: President Trump is leading America into the "Golden Age" as Democrats try desperately to stop it.

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