Trump's Mining Deal: Could It Really Rescue the DRC? [Analysis]
The Congolese government is aiming to reach an accord with the Biden administration regarding the nation’s mineral wealth, seeking U.S. backing in their campaign against the M23 rebels and Rwandan troops advancing in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Although initial talks have started, specifics of the deal continue to be unclear.
The United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DR Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) might soon initiate official talks regarding a crucial minerals agreement. The discussions are currently underway, as the Congolese presidency affirmed to FRANCE 24 concerning U.S. access to the significant mineral wealth within the large Central African nation, known for possessing substantial deposits of cobalt, coltan, copper, and more. lithium those essential for advanced technologies in defense, energy transformation, and various industries.
Last week, the US State Department stated It was receptive to a mining collaboration. In DR Congo, it has been confirmed that initial talks have started.
The Congolese authorities aim to prevent incursions from neighboring countries. Rwanda , which supports the M23 rebels And faces accusations of exploiting his nation's mineral wealth. Starting from January, this militant organization has spearheaded a significant assault in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, exerting substantial strain on the Congolese military forces.
A proposal from Congo to the U.S. Secretary of State
The possibility of a minerals agreement was initially proposed by the President of Congo. Felix Tshisekedi In an interview published on February 22 by The New York Times, which was his first since initiating the 2025 M23 offensive, Tshisekedi proposed "that both the United States and Europe should have a share in Congo’s significant mineral resources—a sector largely controlled by China," as reported by the American newspaper.
The Congolese president placed "his hopes on Western influence exerting pressure on Rwanda," believing that such action might lead to an agreement offering his nation safety and stability, according to the report. Tshisekedi additionally informed The New York Times that the Trump administration had "previously expressed interest in an agreement ensuring a steady supply of strategic minerals directly from Congo."
The interview came out one day following the release of a report by a U.S.-based consulting firm hired by Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, who is both a Congolese senator and an advocate for Tshisekedi. letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio offering a "strategic partnership" between the two nations. The correspondence suggested access to Congolese minerals, operational authority over a deep-water port to function as an export center, and the creation of a shared strategic mineral reserve.
As compensation, the United States agreed to train and arm Congo’s military personnel with the aim of "securing the flow of minerals away from foreign-supported militia groups." Enhanced military collaboration might supersede MONUSCO, referred to in the correspondence as the "ineffectual UN peacekeeping missions" within the Central African country.
Until we have evidence to the contrary, this is not an official plan," clarified Jason K. Sterns, a prominent U.S. specialist on the Democratic Republic of Congo. "Certain aspects appear implausible, like the stationing of American troops on the ground, which contradicts [the President]'s stance. Donald Trump His pledge to repatriate the troops. However, it is clear that the Congolese military is in a vulnerable state in the eastern region, and the government strongly relies on international influence, notably from the United States, to exert additional pressure on Rwanda.
Calls for transparency
The potential for a United States-Democratic Republic of Congo accord brings up numerous queries. "This highlights the issues with leadership in our nation," stated Jean Pierre Okenda, who serves as the executive director of the Congolese organization, La sentinelle des ressources naturelles. Mr. Okenda, mining A sector expert raised worries that the talks, driven by the DR Congo’s security crisis, might not serve the interests of the Congolese economy. "There are individuals who believe that the government primarily aims to safeguard its own control," he stated. "Such agreements shouldn’t be struck behind closed doors; they ought to go before Parliament because these discussions can significantly affect everyday citizens."
Last week, Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya Katembwe stated that the Democratic Republic of Congo aimed to expand its range of partnerships. However, a spokesperson for the Congolese presidency dismissed the notion that the country would exchange its mineral resources for security assistance. "To set the record straight: President Tshisekedi has invited the United States—whose firms obtain critical raw materials from Rwanda, which are actually plundered from the DRC and then illicitly transferred to Rwanda as our people suffer mass killings—to buy these materials directly from us, their legitimate proprietors," asserted Tina Salama on X.
When reached for comment by FRANCE 24, Salama stated that Congolese Senator Kalambayi’s action was "a personal initiative." She clarified that they aim to halt Rwanda’s exploitation of their resources, expressing optimism that a strategic deal with the United States might aid in ending the conflict.
Western hardening towards Rwanda
Salama emphasized that the initiative was particularly aimed at the US because "what had been concealed and nurtured over three decades came to light through Donald Trump's administration." This statement alluded to the US sanctions imposed on February 20 against James Kabarebe, Rwanda’s minister of state for regional integration, as well as Lawrence Kanyuka, who serves as the spokesperson for the M23 rebel group.
It’s evident that the recent developments in the U.S. sanctions “are viewed as a significant development,” clarified Okenda. “For the first time, a Rwandan minister has become a direct target of such actions. Additionally, these measures represent only a single phase in the potential sanctions that Washington might enforce against Rwanda,” she added.
In its statement, the US Treasury Department characterized Kabarebe as "an individual connected with the Rwandan government and associated with M23," noting his role in "facilitating the shipment of mined resources out of Congo through Rwanda."
Based on information from UN experts, the M23 collects significant taxes from mining operations, earning approximately $800,000 per month solely from taxing coltan extraction, in the The Rubaya district in North Kivu which it has been controlling since May 2024.
On February 21, the UN Security Council all members unanimously endorsed a resolution "firmly denouncing" the M23 offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the progress they are making in North and South Kivu regions with backing from the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF).
Read more The UN Security Council calls for Rwanda to remove its soldiers from eastern DR Congo.
A snub to China
Appeals from Congolese officials for investment in mining projects from Western companies are viewed as a rebuff to China, which currently holds sway over approximately 75 to 80 percent of the mining activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, notably within the copper and cobalt industries.
However, this doesn’t automatically imply that the Congolese president has changed his diplomatic approach, according to Sterns. "Félix Tshisekedi has consistently shown a inclination towards the Western world; he lived extensively in Belgium for most of his life and received backing from the United States during his contentious election in 2018," as he pointed out.
Since taking office, the Congolese president has undertaken two official trips to China, aiming to foster and adjust the partnership with Beijing. In January 2024, he finalized the renegotiation of a significant mining deal between the DRC and a Chinese consortium referred to as "صند the deal of the millennium ”.
Initially signed in 2008 during the presidency of Joseph Kabila The renegotiation aimed to provide further advantages for the DRC but did not satisfy numerous Congolese people and faced criticism from non-governmental organizations and civil society groups. "China has not upheld its commitments under the 2008 agreement regarding infrastructure investment," stated Okenda. "On-site, there is little interaction with local communities, and Chinese firms do not prioritize worker’s rights or environmental protection." Many workers now believe, whether correctly or incorrectly, that dealing with the U.S. might be preferable today.
An American mirage?
Motivated by the widely talked-about but still unsigned Ukraine-US mining agreement, Congo offers various appeals to Washington D.C. This situation aligns with President Trump’s "America First" policy and simultaneously counters the ambitions of his adversary, China.
However, from an operational standpoint, this initiative poses significant difficulties, cautions Okenda. "The majority of mining rights have already been allocated to various private enterprises in the southeastern region of the nation—the area most abundant in copper, cobalt, and lithium deposits—which appears to offer minimal space for extensive collaboration with the United States," he explained. Additionally, numerous exploratory ventures are currently underway; yet, these require substantial financial commitments without assured outcomes, factors often overlooked when seeking urgent security assistance funding, as per his observation.
Talks with Washington DC appear even riskier considering that no U.S. mining firm presently operates within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The previous American initiative in this region has left an unpleasant aftertaste and bitter recollections in the Central African nation. When Freeport-McMoRan departed in 2016, it created quite a commotion as allegations surfaced that the company had offloaded its holdings to a Chinese enterprise without informing Congolese officials.
Nevertheless, the United States continues to have an interest in the Democratic Republic of Congo's mineral wealth. This was illustrated by the actions of the previous president. Joe Biden Active backing for the Lobito Corridor, a railway initiative aimed at connecting the mines in northern Zambia and southeast Democratic Republic of Congo with Angola’s Loboto port, was intended to bolster U.S. supply chains and offset Chinese dominance in the region.
"US mining firms might reconsider returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to ongoing talks. However, the notion that the US could effectively challenge or supplant China in this arena is misguided, since it lacks the industrial capabilities for metal processing and refinement that China has," Sterns clarified.
In private, though, both Congolese and U.S. officials are actively working towards finding mutual understanding. On Tuesday, Salama, the spokesperson for the Congo’s presidency, expressed satisfaction with "the smooth progress of discussions," while also stating her preference to "withhold disclosure until all negotiations have been finalized."
Salama likewise verified accounts stating that André Wameso, who serves as Tshisekedi’s deputy chief of staff, had traveled to Washington in early March alongside a delegation. According to Katembwe, the Congolese government spokesperson, "ongoing communications" have been maintained with the United States.
On his end, Trump is said to be planning the appointment of a special envoy to the Great Lakes area. This individual will have a primary assignment focused on examining Congolese mining agreements. reports Massad Boulos, whose son Michael is married to Donald Trump’s daughter Tiffany, has been selected for the position.
This article has been translated from the original in French .
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