00:01The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio on Friday, oversaw the signing by Congo and Rwanda
00:06of a pledge to work towards a peace deal that will ease U.S. access to critical mineral
00:10in resource-rich Eastern Congo, bringing U.S. influence to bear in a mineral trade that
00:16has held fuel conflict that has killed millions for three decades.
00:19Rubio's participation in the Washington ceremony with his Central African counterparts is an
00:24early step in what the Trump administration says is a rebuilding of U.S. foreign policy
00:29to focus on transactions of direct financial or strategic benefit.
00:34Congo and Rwanda hope that the involvement of the United States will calm the fighting
00:38and militia violence that have defied peacekeeping and negotiations since the mid-1990s.
00:44Congo is the one's largest producer of cobalt, a mineral used to make lithium-ion batteries
00:48for electric vehicles and smartphones.
00:50It also has a substantial gold, diamond and copper reserves.
00:54Congolese President Felice Zekedi has sought out a deal with the Trump administration
00:58that will offer the U.S. better access with current resources in exchange for U.S. help,
01:02calming hostilities.
01:03Thank you for the U.S. and for public health.
01:09Thank you very much.
01:10Thank you very much.
01:10Thank you very much.
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