Trump to the Rescue of the DR Congo: What Do We Know About the Mining Agreement Discussed Between the Two Countries?
Congolese authorities hope to reach an agreement with the Trump administration on the country's mineral resources, counting on American support in their fight against the M23 rebels and Rwandan forces leading an offensive in eastern DRC.
Preparatory discussions have begun, according to Kinshasa and Washington, although the details of the project remain very unclear.
Formal negotiations could soon begin between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a view to reaching an agreement on critical materials.
The Congolese presidency confirmed to France 24 that discussions are underway on access to the precious resources of this vast Central African country, which contains one of the largest reserves of cobalt, coltan, copper, and lithium, essential for the manufacture of advanced technologies in the fields of defense and the energy transition.
The US Department of Defense has expressed openness to a mining partnership in the DR Congo, a sector largely dominated by China, confirming that preparatory discussions have begun.
Congolese authorities hope to thus block Rwanda, a supporter of the M23 rebels, accused of plundering the country's mineral resources.
Since January, the armed group has been waging an offensive in eastern DR Congo, posing significant challenges to the Congolese army.
Congolese Authorities Extend Their Help
The possibility of such a mineral agreement was first hinted at by President Félix Tshisekedi on February 22 in an interview with the New York Times.
He called on "the United States and Europe to participate in the exploitation of the vast mineral wealth in the DR Congo," expressing his hope that "these major investments" would bring "greater security and stability to his country," the newspaper reported.
The President also indicated that the Trump administration had already expressed interest in an agreement that could guarantee a direct supply of strategic minerals from the Congo.
At the same time, an American consulting firm commissioned by Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi, a close supporter of Felix Tshisekedi, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seeking to establish a "strategic partnership" between the two countries.
This plan proposes access to Congolese minerals, the management of a port for their export, and the establishment of a joint strategic reserve.
In return, Washington would commit to training and equipping Congolese forces and protecting "strategic resources."
This "enhanced cooperation" would even be intended to replace MONUSCO, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the document states.
“Until proven otherwise, this is not an official plan,” emphasizes Jason K. Sterns, an American researcher specializing in the DR Congo.
“Some points seem unrealistic, such as the deployment of American forces on the ground, which goes against Donald Trump’s promise to bring the soldiers home.
But what is certain is that the Congolese army is in a weak position in the east, and the authorities are counting heavily on international pressure, particularly from the United States, to increase pressure on Kigali.”
Minerals for Peace?
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the possibility of an agreement with Washington raises many questions.
"This information is appearing in the American press, and we have no confirmation from the government; this is symptomatic of the governance problems in our country," laments Jean-Pierre Okenda, executive director of the Congolese NGO "The Sentinel of Natural Resources."
The mining sector expert expresses concern that negotiating an agreement dictated by the security emergency would not benefit the country's economy.
"Some here believe that the authorities are primarily seeking to protect their power.
Such an agreement should not be negotiated behind closed doors but should be submitted to Parliament because it could have a major impact on the population."
Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya Katembwe stated last week that the Democratic Republic of Congo was simply seeking to diversify its partners.
For her part, the head of state's spokesperson contradicted the idea that the Democratic Republic of Congo was willing to exchange its minerals for security support.
"President Félix Tshisekedi is instead inviting the United States, whose companies source strategic raw materials from Rwanda, which plunders them while massacring our people, to come and buy them directly from us, the true owners," declared Tina Salama on X.
Contacted by France 24, the spokesperson affirmed that the approach of Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi was a "personal initiative."
"We are seeking to stop Rwandan predation of our resources," she explained, maintaining the hope that a strategic agreement with the United States could help "stop the war."
The President's spokesperson also clarified that he had primarily addressed the Americans "because what had been hidden and maintained for 30 years has just been revealed by the Donald Trump administration."
This was a reference to the targeted US sanctions announced on February 20 against James Kabarebe, Rwandan Minister of State for Regional Integration, and Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the M23 rebellion.
"It is clear that the recent US sanctions are seen as an important step," explained Jean-Pierre Okenda.
"This is the first time that a Rwandan minister has been directly targeted."
Furthermore, this is only one level of sanctions that Washington could impose against Rwanda," he emphasizes.
In its statement of reasons detailing these sanctions, the United States describes James Kabarebe as the "liaison" between the government and the rebel group, claiming that he is also responsible for "coordinating exports" of minerals from the DRC to Rwanda.
According to UN experts, the M23 levies significant taxes on mining activities, generating approximately $800,000 per month from coltan taxation alone, in the Rubaya area, which it has controlled since May 2024.
On February 21, the Security Council unanimously approved a resolution "strongly condemning" the M23 offensive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and its advances in the provinces of North and South Kivu with the support of the Rwandan Forces of Defense (FRD), the official army of the Republic of Rwanda.
Disenchantment with China
The Congolese authorities' appeals to Western powers, inviting them to invest in the mining sector, are seen as a snub to China, which alone controls between 75 and 80% of mining in the DRC, particularly in the copper and cobalt sectors.
Should this be seen as a diplomatic shift on the part of the Congolese president?
Definitely not, replies Jason K. Sterns. "Felix Tshisekedi has always tended to look towards the West; he spent a large part of his life in Belgium and was supported by the United States during his contested election in 2018," he recalls.
Since coming to power, the Congolese president has made two bilateral visits to China with the aim of developing but also rebalancing the partnership with Beijing.
In January 2024, he concluded the renegotiation of the main mining agreement with Beijing, known as the "Contract of the Century," signed in 2008, securing an increase in the DR Congo's share of mining profits and a doubling of Chinese investments in the country's infrastructure.
This announcement was far from enough to calm the anger of the Congolese people, according to Jean-Pierre Okenda.
"China has not respected the counterpart of the 2008 agreement regarding its infrastructure investments.
On the ground, there is no real engagement with local communities, and Chinese companies have no regard for workers' rights or respect for the environment," he denounced.
"Today, many of these workers believe, rightly or wrongly, that it would be preferable to deal with the United States."
American Mirage?
Inspired by the mining agreement currently under discussion between the American and Ukrainian leaders, the Congolese version has several appeals for Washington.
It could fit into Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, while thwarting the interests of his Chinese rival. But operationally, such a project presents enormous challenges, warns Jean Pierre Okenda.
"Most of the mining concessions have already been transferred to private companies in the southeast of the country, the richest region in copper, cobalt, and lithium ores.
This seems to leave little room for a large-scale agreement with the United States.
Of course, numerous exploration projects are underway, but they represent enormous investments, with no guarantees upon arrival that are unlikely to weigh heavily in the balance when it comes to obtaining emergency security assistance," he emphasizes.
Negotiations with the United States are expected to be all the more risky since no American mining company is present in the DRC. And the last experience left a bad impression.
The departure of Freeport-McMoRan caused a stir in 2016, when the company was accused of selling its assets to a Chinese firm without consulting the authorities.
Nevertheless, the United States retains a definite interest in the mineral resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This is evidenced by Joe Biden's active support for the Lobito Corridor, a rail project aimed at connecting mines in northern Zambia and southeastern DRC to the Angolan port of Lobito, to strengthen American supply and counter Chinese influence.
"American mining companies could return to the DRC as a result of ongoing discussions. But the idea that the United States could seriously compete with or even replace China is a fallacy, as it no longer possesses the industrial capacity for metal processing and refining, unlike Beijing," explains Jason K. Sterns.
Behind the scenes, however, Congolese and American officials are working hard to find common ground.
"Discussions are progressing well," the Congolese presidential spokeswoman said Tuesday, explaining that she wanted to "wait until they are concluded before revealing their content."
Tina Salama also confirmed reports that André Wameso, deputy chief of staff to Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, traveled to Washington in early March with a delegation.
"Daily exchanges" are taking place with the United States, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya Katembwe explained last week.
Donald Trump, for his part, is reportedly preparing to appoint a special envoy for the Great Lakes region, with the priority mission of studying an agreement on Congolese minerals.
France 24 / MCP, via mediacongo.net
