DR Congo seeks US partnership in minerals deal in exchange for military support
The proposed agreement would give U.S. companies rights to mine strategic resources, including cobalt and uranium while providing the Congolese government with military support.
DR Congo seeks US partnership in minerals deal in exchange for military support
In a bid to strengthen its global supply of critical minerals, the Trump administration is considering a minerals deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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The proposed agreement would give U.S. companies rights to mine strategic resources, including cobalt and uranium while providing the Congolese government with military support.
The discussions, though still in early stages, mark the latest effort by Washington to secure access to critical raw materials while countering China’s influence in Africa.
The DRC, which boasts some of the world’s largest reserves of copper, cobalt and uranium, approached the U.S. last month with a proposal to grant exploration rights in exchange for backing President Felix Tshisekedi’s administration.
Congolese officials hope that securing a minerals deal will help bolster Tshisekedi’s position as he grapples with a worsening armed conflict in the country’s east, where the M23 rebel group—allegedly backed by neighboring Rwanda—has seized swaths of mineral-rich territory, including the key cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Sources familiar with the negotiations told the Financial Times that talks with Washington have become more serious in recent days, although significant obstacles remain.
“The DRC is endowed with a significant share of the world’s critical minerals required for advanced technologies. The United States is open to discussing partnerships in this sector that are aligned with the Trump administration’s America First agenda,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told the Financial Times, confirming Washington’s willingness to explore a potential partnership.
Economic benefits
The department further emphasised the potential economic benefits of such a deal, stating, “Partnerships with U.S. companies will strengthen both U.S. and DRC economies, create higher skilled jobs and integrate the country into regional and global value chains.”
M23 rebels stand guard near civilians during a meeting organised by the M23 at the Stade de l'Unite, after the town of Goma was taken by the M23 rebels, in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 6, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi)
A formal proposal for the agreement was outlined in a letter sent late last month to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on behalf of Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi. The letter suggested that in exchange for mineral extraction rights, the U.S. could assist in training and equipping the Congolese armed forces.
While the exact terms of a deal are yet to be finalised, the U.S. interest highlights the Trump administration’s broader focus on securing resource access worldwide.
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has proposed taking control of Greenland and has pushed for a minerals deal with Ukraine, which is expected to be signed soon. America's involvement in the DRC’s mining sector could serve as a counterweight to China, whose companies currently dominate large-scale mineral extraction in the country.
“While China has historically dominated mineral supply chains in the DR Congo, the recent policy shift from President Tshisekedi presents a rare opportunity for the U.S. to establish a direct and ethical supply chain,” the letter to Rubio highlighted the concern.
No major American mining companies have operated in the DRC since Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake in the Tenke Fungurume copper mine in 2016.
The mineral talks come amid increasing political uncertainty in the DRC, where President Tshisekedi faces growing challenges from his opponents. Some analysts view the proposal as a move to shore up international support amid mounting domestic and regional threats.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has further complicated the situation. UN investigators have accused Rwanda of exploiting the crisis to plunder minerals such as gold and coltan, a key material used in mobile phones. According to UN reports, Rwanda has deployed thousands of troops across the border to support M23 rebels, exacerbating tensions in the region.
While Rwanda has repeatedly denied the allegations, the U.S. last month imposed sanctions on James Kabarebe, the country’s minister for regional integration and a former army chief, for his alleged role in the conflict. The fighting has also drawn in forces from Burundi and Uganda, raising fears of a wider regional war reminiscent of past conflicts that destabilised Central Africa.
Amid the developments, President Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, addressed the proposed minerals deal on X, suggesting that a direct partnership with the U.S. would help the DRC regain control of its resources.
“The Congolese president had invited the U.S., whose companies source strategic raw materials from Rwanda—materials that are looted from the DR Congo and smuggled to Rwanda while our populations are massacred—to purchase them directly from us, the rightful owners,” Salama said.
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