Dar es Salaam, March 19 -- CONGO – Diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and Belgium have escalated over the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a contentious minerals deal that has caught the attention of European and global stakeholders.

The conflict in eastern DRC, fueled by the M23 rebel group, has added a new layer of complexity to the already volatile situation, with both Rwanda and Belgium accusing each other of exacerbating the crisis.

The DRC, rich in mineral resources such as cobalt, lithium, and copper, has long attracted international interest. These minerals, critical for the production of electric vehicles and green technologies, are seen as essential to the global push for a renewable ene...