Tshisekedi courts US: DRC offers minerals in exchange for military backing in war against M23 rebels
The letter, sent by Aaron Poynton, a US businessman and lobbyist tasked by Kinshasa last June with organising a roundtable for US and Congolese business and political leaders, describes Congo's minerals as a strategic asset for US economic and security interests.
As conflict escalates in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshisekedi is deepening diplomatic and security ties with the United States, leveraging Congo's vast mineral wealth as a bargaining chip for military and diplomatic backing against the M23 rebels.
A classified letter from the Africa-USA Business Council to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dated February 21, 2025, reveals the extent of Kinshasa's push for an exclusive economic and military partnership with Washington.
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The letter, sent by Aaron Poynton, a US businessman and lobbyist tasked by Kinshasa last June with organising a roundtable for US and Congolese business and political leaders, describes Congo's minerals as a strategic asset for US economic and security interests.
"The United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo share a common interest in strengthening strategic mineral supply chains, ensuring economic resilience, and advancing mutual security objectives."
It argues that the US, as the world's leading economy and global security power, is well-positioned to forge an enduring partnership with Congo—a country that possesses over $24 trillion in untapped reserves of critical minerals.
The letter emphasises that these resources—primarily cobalt, lithium, tantalum, and uranium—are essential to 21st-century defense, aerospace, and energy industries.
With demand for these materials skyrocketing amid geopolitical tensions, Kinshasa is positioning itself as the West's alternative to China's dominance in the global mineral trade.
Members of the M23 rebel group gather to supervise Congolese potential recruits for the M23 rebel group before being taken to training centres run by M23 rebels on January 30, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi)
Tshisekedi's government is now pushing to formalise this partnership, arguing that US engagement in Congo's mineral sector is a geopolitical necessity to counter China's influence.
The letter calls for urgent high-level discussions in Washington, DC, involving President Tshisekedi and key US leaders.
It states, "The moment is ripe to deepen this relationship and formalise a long-term economic and security partnership that benefits both nations. This presents a unique opportunity for the United States to establish a reliable and exclusive supply chain while reinforcing regional stability."
At the heart of the proposed US-DRC strategic partnership is an agreement that would grant US companies privileged access to Congolese minerals while offering Kinshasa military support to secure its territory and push back against Rwanda's alleged influence in eastern Congo.
The proposal includes a series of strategic concessions.
First, the DRC is prepared to grant US firms extraction and export rights to guarantee a stable, direct supply of cobalt, lithium, and other critical minerals essential for the US defense and technology industries.
Additionally, the letter proposes handing over operational control of the Banana Deep-Water Port to US firms, ensuring that American companies oversee one of the region's key mineral export hubs.
Beyond economic cooperation, the proposal includes a military component, emphasising closer security ties between Kinshasa and Washington.
Under this agreement, the US would train and equip the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to protect mineral supply routes from foreign-backed militant groups.
It also suggests that US forces could replace ineffective UN peacekeeping operations, granting Washington a military presence in key zones of Congo's mineral-rich eastern regions.
The urgency of this deal is tied to the escalating war between the Congolese army and M23 rebels.
A UN expert report found that M23-controlled territories were being used to smuggle minerals into Rwanda, which were then sold on the global market.
Tshisekedi has publicly denounced the European Union's cash-for-minerals deal with Rwanda, calling it "an absolute scandal" and accusing Brussels of being complicit in the looting of Congolese resources. Rwana denies any involvement.
Tshisekedi's diplomatic push is not happening in isolation.
According to Africa Confidential, Kinshasa has intensified lobbying efforts in Washington, hiring US lobbyists under a $1.4 million contract to secure "strategic engagements in US defence security and critical mineral diplomacy."
This is part of a broader strategy that started last year when state mining company Gécamines signed a $925,000 contract with the Washington-based lobbying firm Mercury to influence US policymakers.
The timing of Kinshasa's pivot to Washington is particularly significant given the return of Donald Trump to the White House.
Tshisekedi's administration believes that Trump's transactional approach to foreign policy presents an opportunity to secure US support in exchange for exclusive mineral deals.
Africa Confidential notes that Trump has made it clear in other negotiations—such as his proposal that Ukraine offer the US access to $500 billion in rare earth minerals in exchange for peace—that he prioritises strategic resource access in his global dealings.
While Tshisekedi frames this deal as a geopolitical lifeline against M23, critics warn it could place Congo's resources under US corporate control.
Some argue that handing over key mining rights and infrastructure to Washington risks turning DRC into a resource appendage of the US military-industrial complex.
Tshisekedi's supporters counter that this partnership is necessary to break the cycle of foreign exploitation and secure military backing against incursions.
The potential risks of such a deal are evident.
If Kinshasa fully commits to Washington, it could lead to a permanent shift in its geopolitical alignment, pulling the DRC further into the Western sphere and reducing its reliance on China and European partners.
However, in doing so, Tshisekedi may face backlash from Congolese political factions, civil society, and regional allies concerned about the consequences of putting the country's strategic assets in the hands of the US.
The agreement, if finalised, would mark one of the most significant geopolitical and economic deals in Africa in recent years.
It could solidify US economic and military influence in Central Africa, realign global supply chains, and position Congo as a critical partner in Washington's long-term strategic ambitions.
Yet, the broader question remains: Is this a genuine partnership that ensures Congo's long-term security and development, or is Tshisekedi selling out Congo's sovereignty for short-term geopolitical gains?
What's Next?
As negotiations unfold, all eyes will be on Washington and Kinshasa. Will the US commit military and diplomatic resources to backing Tshisekedi against M23?
Will the terms of mineral extraction and port control become a point of contention within Congolese political circles?
For now, the deal remains in the hands of policymakers in Washington and Kinshasa, but its impact could reshape the future of Africa's role in the global resource economy.
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