Critical Minerals and Energy Intelligence. Stay Ahead.

US in talks with DR Congo for critical minerals deal

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The US is in early discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a potential minerals-for-military-support agreement.

The Congo is the world’s largest cobalt producer, as well as rich in copper, gold, lithium and uranium, as well as other minerals. However, the current government under President Félix Tshisekedi is under pressure from M23 rebels backed by neighbouring country Rwanda, which have recently captured significant control of mineral rich regions of the country and the cities of Goma and Bukavu.

The original report on exploratory talks in the Financial Times has been confirmed by the US State Department to Reuters.

Areas in the discussions include:

US mining access: Congo is offering exploration rights to US companies and a potential partnership in building a strategic mineral stockpile
military assistance: in return, the DRC wants American support in training and equipping its armed forces
strategic value: a potential deal would give the US direct access to essential minerals like cobalt, copper, and uranium, crucial for everything from EV batteries to advanced defense systems

This potential agreement is also a direct challenge to China’s dominance in the Congo’s mining sector. Beijing has spent decades locking down supply chains in the region, and any US move to re-enter the market would be a major shift. The deal could also impact regional stability in Central Africa, with tensions between the Congo and Rwanda already volatile.

However, talks are still in the very early stages with no firm commitments — and the political situation in Kinshasa remains fragile with president Tshisekedi under increasing pressure.

No major American mining company has operated in DR Congo since Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake the Tenke Fungurume copper mine in 2016.

The discussions are developing as one of the most ambitious projects to supply anticipated demand for copper gets underway: the Lobito corridor in central Africa — 2,600km of railway linking copper mines in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port on the Atlantic coast. The estimated cost: US$2.3 billion.

The US and EU have signed MoUs with DRC and Zambia to build critical mineral refining capacity in the region and there are efforts, for example, by Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) to supply refiners in Canada and Japan.

Our recent analysis:

Will Africa’s “Copper Express” ever be built?

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