The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is pushing to finalize a landmark minerals agreement with the United States by the end of June, aiming to attract fresh investment into its mining sector while also seeking diplomatic leverage in efforts to quell a Rwanda-backed insurgency in the country’s conflict-ridden eastern provinces.
The proposed deal is part of a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen its footprint in Congo’s lucrative mining industry, which has been heavily influenced by Chinese interests for the past two decades.
The DRC holds some of the world’s richest deposits of critical minerals—cobalt, copper, coltan, and others—essential for renewable energy technologies and global manufacturing supply chains.
China has established a deep and widespread presence in the DRC’s mining sector, from artisanal operations to major industrial players such as CMOC. A key milestone was the 2008 minerals-for-infrastructure agreement between Beijing and Kinshasa, which entrenched Chinese influence in the country.
DRC’s Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, emphasized that a partnership with the United States would help diversify the country’s economic alliances and reduce its dependency on Chinese firms for mineral development and infrastructure.
The agreement under negotiation reportedly includes regional cooperation components—such as mineral export frameworks and metals processing partnerships—with neighbouring countries, including Rwanda.
Rwanda has faced longstanding allegations of profiting from the illicit trade of Congolese minerals, such as gold and coltan, amid ongoing regional instability. While Kigali denies supporting armed groups like M23, it claims to be acting in self-defence.
Sources familiar with the talks suggest that Rwanda sees the DRC-U.S. negotiations as an opportunity to formalize its role in the regional mineral economy and attract foreign investment into its own processing capabilities.
Nevertheless, Congolese officials insist that any future collaboration must be predicated on the full restoration of government control in key eastern cities like Goma and Bukavu, which have been overrun by rebel groups.
If concluded, the U.S.-DRC minerals deal could mark a significant geopolitical shift—realigning investment flows, reducing Chinese dominance, and redefining regional dynamics in Central Africa’s resource economy.
