Western Deals with Rwanda

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/rwanda-exports-critical-mineral-tungsten-concentrate-to-the-us-for-the-first-time/jcl63ne

The article only mentions it in passing but there's a suspicion connected to the 'conflict free' minerals coming out of Rwanda. Under Paul Kagame, Rwanda has long involved itself in the affairs and ongoing wars of Eastern Congo - primarily in their support of the M23 militia. Time will tell if the present peace does in fact hold.

Regardless, these militias are not just about securing victories over military rivals or the seeking of revenge for the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. They also function to secure resources and in a circular fashion the resources also fund their paramilitary efforts.

Kagame has turned into something of an authoritarian who has been on the receiving end of minor rebukes from the US State Department. And yet other more influential elements within the US Government remain on intimate terms with him. He's long been a White House/CIA (and now Wall Street) favourite in the region. Additionally, Kagame is friends with American Evangelical leaders even though he suppresses any Christian group that is not fully on board with the aims of his regime.

This story caught my eye because I know Towanda, Pennsylvania and have passed through the town on several occasions over the years. Based on Route 6, it's located on the main East-West corridor across Northern Pennsylvania - a road I know very well. There's something strange to me to think of minerals coming from East Africa being processed in small town Pennsylvania. There are additional plans for future Rwanda-related projects possibly connected to either a smelter in Butler, Pennsylvania (a industrial/retail hub north of Pittsburgh that's often visited by us) and Coatesville which despite being in affluent Chester County, also has some industrial areas. My son the truck driver has been in Coatesville on many occasions moving loads connected to the steel industry - and interestingly often in connection to the port in Baltimore.

The article is correct in mentioning geopolitics and China - that's a big part of what's driving Washington to make this deal. Additionally, Kagame is trying to boost his standing in the West - all the more as his regime has received criticism for its human rights record. Kagame's government has also been connected to some dark deeds abroad connected to the exile and dissident community. He also tried to cut a deal with the UK which was keen to outsource its immigrant problem - sending many asylum seekers and the like to Rwanda as an alternative. Obviously this was not received well among the refugees and immigrants - which was the whole point. Successive UK governments wanted to make coming to the UK unattractive, as it would result in being shipped to East Africa. Kagame for his part would receive significant cash infusions, investment deals, and the like.

In other words just about everything connected to Rwanda in recent years is tainted, and reeks of corruption and sleight-of-hand deals. And so I'm left wondering if this processing (based in Pennsylvania) isn't more of the same?