SOFREP Evening Brief: US Pushes for Congo-Rwanda Peace Accord Linked to Multi-Billion Dollar Mineral Deals, Rubio Pushes for De-escalation as India-Pakistan Tensions Soar After Kashmir Attack

Good evening! Welcome to SOFREP’s evening brief. Here’s your roundup of defense and global affairs for Thursday, May 1, 2025: The UN demanded Israel lift its Gaza blockade, calling it illegal and deadly. The US is brokering a Congo-Rwanda peace deal tied to major mineral investments. South Africa began withdrawing peacekeepers from Congo. Trump replaced NSA Mike Waltz with Marco Rubio, who now holds both top security roles. Ukraine and Russia traded deadly drone strikes as the US secured access to Ukrainian minerals. India-Pakistan tensions escalated after a Kashmir attack, with the US urging de-escalation.

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UN Demands Israel Lift Gaza Blockade as Humanitarian Crisis Escalates

The United Nations’ top emergency relief official has called on Israel to immediately lift its blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza, describing the halt as “cruel collective punishment.”

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said Thursday that blocking aid violates international law and endangers millions of civilians.

Israel has barred all humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip since the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas in March. It justifies the blockade and renewed military campaign as measures to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 hostages and disarming. However, humanitarian organizations warn the siege has pushed Gaza into its worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war.

The UN reports that over 3,000 aid trucks carrying lifesaving supplies are stranded outside Gaza due to the blockade. Aid agencies say food stockpiles are exhausted, hospitals are failing, and tens of thousands of children face severe malnutrition.

UNRWA, the UN’s primary agency for Palestinian relief, confirmed that 660,000 children are currently out of school and called the blockade a “total systemic collapse.”

Blocking aid starves civilians. It leaves them without basic medical support. It strips them of dignity and hope. It inflicts a cruel collective punishment. Blocking aid kills. pic.twitter.com/vK0l04CrK8

— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) May 1, 2025

Israeli airstrikes continued throughout April 30 to May 1, killing at least 26 people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported receiving the bodies of eight more victims, including three women and three children.

Over 52,400 Palestinians have died since the war began, with more than 2,300 killed since March 18, the ministry reported. It claims more than half of the dead are women and children.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Israel says it has since killed over 20,000 militants but has not provided verification.

The UN’s humanitarian coordinator emphasized that “aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip,” asserting that humanitarian operations must remain neutral and protected. He also criticized an Israeli proposal to manage aid distribution through private contractors or Israeli forces, saying it “does not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support.”

The United Kingdom joined the UN in urging Israel to open aid crossings. “The healthcare system in Gaza is near collapse,” the British Foreign Office said, calling for medical supplies to be delivered and for wounded civilians to be allowed to seek treatment outside the enclave.

Despite international pressure, Israeli strikes have continued daily, targeting homes, shelters, and public areas in Gaza, with no sign of the blockade easing.

US Pushes for Congo-Rwanda Peace Accord Linked to Multi-Billion Dollar Mineral Deals

The United States is spearheading efforts to broker a peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, with plans for a formal signing ceremony at the White House in approximately two months.

The accord will be accompanied by major bilateral mineral deals projected to bring billions of dollars in Western investment to the region, according to Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior advisor for Africa.

Boulos told Reuters the peace deal will coincide with the signing of two resource agreements—one with the DRC and a smaller package with Rwanda. These agreements aim to unlock US and Western corporate investment in mining and infrastructure projects across both nations, including mineral processing operations in Rwanda.

The push for peace comes as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels make significant advances in eastern Congo, escalating long-standing regional conflict. While Kigali denies supporting the M23, Washington is pressing Rwanda to withdraw its forces from Congolese territory and cease its backing of the militia.

Simultaneously, Congo is being urged to address Rwandan concerns over hostile groups like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) operating within its borders.

As part of the US-led peace initiative, both countries are expected to submit draft peace proposals by Friday. A final version is anticipated to be negotiated in mid-May, when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with the foreign ministers of Rwanda and Congo in Washington.

A newly appointed follow-up committee—including representatives from the US, Qatar, France, and Togo on behalf of the African Union—will monitor the parties’ progress. The DRC’s mineral deal is expected to be significantly larger due to the country’s extensive natural resources, while Rwanda’s agreement will support mining infrastructure development across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

Boulos emphasized that American and Western firms are prepared to commit multi-billion dollar investments once the accords are finalized.

South African Troops Begin Withdrawal from Eastern Congo Amid Rebel Control

The South African National Defense Force announced Thursday that it has started withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from eastern DRC, where Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized control of key territory, including the strategic city of Goma.

The withdrawal, which began earlier this week, involves the redeployment of troops through Rwanda and Tanzania before returning to South Africa. Peacekeepers from Malawi and Tanzania are also pulling out, following a March decision by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to end its mission early.

SADC troops, including South Africans, Tanzanians, and Malawians, along with their equipment, are being evacuated from DRC to Tanzania

Southern African Development Community began withdrawing, aiming to restore regional security pic.twitter.com/mYaE1dMeeV

— RT (@RT_com) April 30, 2025

The drawdown comes after intense fighting in January left 14 South African and 3 Malawian soldiers dead. The offensive by M23 left peacekeepers isolated in rebel-held areas, unable to safely continue operations.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe confirmed his country is providing safe passage and escorts for the departing peacekeepers and their equipment.

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported that hundreds of Congolese soldiers, police officers, and their families stranded in Goma are also being transferred to Kinshasa.

M23 now controls both Goma and another major city in eastern Congo with support from approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops, according to UN experts.

Trump Replaces National Security Adviser Mike Waltz With Marco Rubio in Major Staff Shake-Up

President Donald Trump removed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Thursday and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement, marking the first major reshuffling of Trump’s inner circle since his return to office in January.

Trump announced the change via social media, stating he would nominate Waltz to serve as the next US ambassador to the United Nations, praising his record of prioritizing national interests.

Waltz’s ouster had been anticipated earlier in the day, according to sources familiar with the decision.

The appointment of Rubio to serve simultaneously as Secretary of State and National Security Adviser is a historic move. It marks the first time since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s that one individual will hold both posts.

Waltz’s departure follows internal White House criticism related to a March scandal involving a private Signal chat among top national security aides. The incident reportedly strained trust within Trump’s security team.

Also departing is Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, a seasoned Asia expert and former State Department official during Trump’s first term. Wong had played a key role in North Korea policy and regional diplomacy.

The role of national security adviser is a senior position within the White House that does not require Senate confirmation, allowing the president to make immediate personnel changes.

Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills Seven; Russia Hits Odesa as US-Ukraine Mineral Deal Signed

A Ukrainian drone strike on a market in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s Kherson region, killed at least seven people and wounded over 20, Russian-installed governor Vladimir Saldo reported Thursday.

Saldo accused Kyiv of deliberately launching follow-up drone attacks to target survivors.

Ukrainian army KILLS 7 civilians, leaves two dozen injured, in MASSIVE drone attack on packed market in Oleshky (Kherson region) — Governor Vladimir Saldo pic.twitter.com/5ei5WE3rWw

— Levan Gudadze (@GudadzeLevan) May 1, 2025

In a separate incident the same day, a Russian drone strike on the port city of Odesa killed two civilians and injured 15 others. The attack damaged residential buildings, a school, a supermarket, and other infrastructure, according to regional authorities. A petrol station in Kharkiv was also hit, igniting a fire, city officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia for ignoring a US-backed ceasefire proposal and continuing strikes on civilian targets, stating that Moscow had refused “lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land.”

The attacks coincided with the signing of a significant US-Ukraine agreement granting the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.

Zelenskyy called the deal “historic” and said it was a result of earlier talks with Donald Trump at the Vatican. He emphasized the agreement contains no repayment obligations for past US aid and establishes equitable terms for joint investment.

Public response in Kyiv was mixed. Some residents expressed hope for a stronger US-Ukraine partnership, while others criticized the deal as compromising national sovereignty and reducing Ukraine to a bargaining chip.

In Odesa, debris is still being cleared at the residential building hit by a Russian drone. Numerous fires broke out in the city overnight. In total, Odesa was attacked by 21 drones. Tragically, there have been fatalities. My condolences to the families and loved ones. All those… pic.twitter.com/zGsRIUl0X8

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 1, 2025

Russian reaction was critical but limited, coinciding with a national holiday. Dmitry Medvedev accused the US of extracting payment for military support via Ukraine’s resources. Other Kremlin-linked figures described the deal as surrendering Ukraine’s wealth to foreign control.

The mineral deal comes as international support for Ukraine’s war effort becomes increasingly intertwined with geopolitical and economic interests.

Rubio Pushes for De-escalation as India-Pakistan Tensions Soar After Kashmir Attack

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held urgent calls with senior officials in India and Pakistan to calm rising tensions after a deadly attack in Kashmir last week that killed 26 Hindu tourists in Pahalgam.

India has blamed Pakistan for backing the attack—a charge Islamabad denies—prompting a series of retaliatory moves that have pushed the two nuclear-armed nations to their most volatile point in years.

Rubio urged Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to de-escalate the crisis. According to US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio expressed condolences and reaffirmed America’s support for India in combating terrorism.

Jaishankar responded by stressing that those responsible for the massacre must face justice.

Tensions have escalated rapidly. Both nations have expelled each other’s diplomats, shut their shared border and airspace, and suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. Troops on both sides have exchanged fire for six consecutive nights along the Line of Control in Kashmir, with each country accusing the other of firing first.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif dismissed India’s accusations and asked Washington to urge India to “dial down the rhetoric.” Pakistan has offered to participate in an international probe into the incident.

In a separate call, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to express support for India’s right to self-defense.

Today, I spoke with Indian Defense Minister Singh @rajnathsingh to personally extend my deepest condolences for the loss of life in the heinous terrorist attack last week.

I offered my strong support. We stand with India and its great people

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir reviewed a major military exercise in eastern Punjab. In a strong warning, he stated any Indian military action would be met with a “swift, resolute, and notch-up response,” while reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to peace.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani also reached out to Sharif, offering help to de-escalate the crisis diplomatically.

The latest round of violence underscores the enduring volatility of the Kashmir conflict, which has sparked multiple wars and skirmishes between India and Pakistan since partition. The US remains engaged in trying to avert a broader conflict in South Asia.

Sources: News Agencies