After Ukraine, the United States is now turning its attention to Africa. Washington is preparing for a bilateral mineral resources agreement with Congo and Rwanda, alongside efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict between the two nations.

This information was shared on Thursday by Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor on African Affairs to U.S. President Donald Trump. In an interview in Doha, Boulos stated that once a peace agreement is reached, the U.S. will immediately finalize a mineral resources deal with Congo. A similar, though slightly different, agreement will be made with Rwanda.

This deal comes at a time when M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, are making unprecedented advances in Congo. The region is rich in minerals such as tantalum and gold, and has been plagued by conflict for decades, according to Reuters.