This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President Donald Trump had been planning on an agreement Friday with Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to mine rare earth minerals there, a plan that was derailed by Zelensky's demands when he met with Trump in the White House.
But it may not be a significant setback, as a second nation already is proposing a deal with America to give it access to rare earths.
The Washington Examiner reported President Felix Tshisekedi, of the Congo, wants to have the U.S. support his nation's fight against Rwandan-backed rebels in exchange for mining access.
"Eyeing the critical mineral deal President Donald Trump is striking with Ukraine, Tshisekedi is hoping to use his country's vast mineral wealth to earn U.S. support," the report explained.
"President Tshisekedi invites the USA, whose companies source strategic raw materials from Rwanda, materials that are looted from the [Democratic Republic of Congo] and smuggled to Rwanda while our populations are massacred, to purchase them directly from us the rightful owners," a spokeswoman for Congo's chief, Tina Salama, explained on social media.
She said the offer is good for Europe as well.
The report explained Kinshasa has hired U.S. lobbyists on a $1.4 million, one-year contract to work on "engagements to advance defense security and critical mineral diplomacy with the United States."
Congo is mineral rich, even though its population mostly is extremely poor.
There are resources including copper, diamonds, gold, and cobalt, as well as special interest elements tin, tungsten and tantalum, which are needed for consumer electronics.
The Examiner explained, "A United Nations report found that 150 tons of coltan, a vital resource used in smartphones and other electronics, were 'fraudulently exported to Rwanda and mixed with Rwandan production.' Congo estimates that Kigali is earning $1 billion in annual revenue from the smuggled metals, a massive amount for a country with a $13.3 billion GDP."
Currently, Chinese interests control some two-thirds of cobalt refineries, and the Communist regime uses the results for electric vehicle production.
In recent weeks the U.S. has announced sanctions against several Rwandan officials and corporations.
The Congo, however, is not without its atrocities, with Christians being beheaded there by majority Islamic radicals.
