The US State Department announced on Tuesday that businessman Massad Boulos will soon embark on a diplomatic tour of Africa to address the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His trip marks another instance of a close associate of former President Donald Trump taking on an unconventional diplomatic role.
Boulos, a Lebanese-born American whose son is married to Trump’s daughter Tiffany, was recently appointed as a senior advisor for Africa. This new role is in addition to his existing position as a senior advisor to the president on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs.
According to the State Department, Boulos will travel on Thursday to the DRC, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. He will be accompanied by senior US diplomat Corina Sanders and is expected to meet with regional leaders and business figures.
The delegation “will meet with heads of state and business leaders to advance efforts for durable peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and to promote US private sector investment in the region,” a State Department statement said.
The trip comes amid escalating violence in the mineral-rich but conflict-ridden eastern DRC, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized large territories. While Rwanda denies allegations of military support for M23, a UN report has found evidence of approximately 4,000 Rwandan troops operating in the DRC to assist the group.
Kenya, a key US ally in Africa, has played an active role in regional peace efforts, while Uganda has maintained complex ties with both the Congolese government and Rwanda. Uganda’s relations with Washington have grown increasingly strained in recent years due to President Yoweri Museveni’s crackdown on political opposition and his backing of one of the world’s most severe anti-LGBTQ laws.
President Joe Biden’s administration had previously brokered a tentative peace deal in the DRC, but negotiations ultimately collapsed.
Boulos has prior business experience in Africa. A New York Times investigation last year revealed that he was involved in selling trucks in Nigeria. However, the report did not substantiate his claims of vast wealth, despite his public statements suggesting otherwise.
His appointment and upcoming visit highlight the evolving nature of US diplomatic engagement in Africa, with key figures from Trump’s orbit increasingly stepping into advisory roles on international affairs.
