The United States of America is reportedly in exploratory discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo about a possible deal giving Washington access to critical minerals in the African country.
Last month, President Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo approached the US with a proposal for a deal that would offer exploration rights to President Trump's administration in exchange for support for the government.
According to people with direct knowledge, discussions with Washington have grown more serious in recent days although several 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 state department spokesperson noted.
The State Department added that, "Partnerships with US companies will strengthen both US and DRC economies, create higher skilled jobs, and integrate the country into regional and global value chains,”.
The offer, confirmed by Congolese officials, aims to counter China’s dominance in the sector, which has long relied on European and Asian investment. Congo’s mineral wealth, spanning gold, copper, lithium, and tin, is critical for tech and green energy industries.
While the U.S. is itself mineral-rich, the deal could bolster access to strategic resources while curbing Beijing’s influence.
President Trump’s stance remains unclear, though proponents argue securing minerals as “payment” for security exceeds current European alliances, which they claim yield “nothing.”
A letter sent to secretary of state Marco Rubio on behalf of Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi late last month proposed that DR Congo could give US companies extraction rights for mining projects, and collaborate on developing a strategic stockpile of minerals.
In exchange, the letter requests American support for training and equipping Congolese armed forces.
While the terms of a deal have yet to be worked out, the interest shown by the US underscores the Trump administration’s focus on acquiring access to resources around the world.
Greater US involvement in DR Congo would provide a counterweight to China’s influence and the Chinese companies that control most large mining operations there.
The letter sent to Rubio states: “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 US to establish a direct and ethical supply chain.”
No major American mining companies have operated in DR Congo since Freeport-McMoRan sold its stake the Tenke Fungurume copper mine in 2016.
The mineral deal talks are taking place at a time when the political situation in the country is increasingly fragile. Tshisekedi’s hold on power has looked shakier in recent weeks as his political opponents in DR Congo seek advantage from his perceived weakness.
CONGO CONFLICT.
Investigators have accused neighbouring Rwanda of exploiting the conflict in eastern Congo to plunder mineral resources such as gold and the coltan used in mobile phones.
UN officials have said Rwanda has sent several thousand troops across the border in support of M23 during the latest round of fighting, which escalated in January.
While Rwanda denies the allegations, the US imposed sanctions on the country’s minister for regional integration and former army chief, James Kabarebe, last month.
The conflict has drawn in other neighbouring armies, including from Burundi and Uganda, and risks reviving the wider regional war that engulfed the region two decades ago.
The DRC, often called the richest country in the world in terms of mineral resources, holds vast deposits of cobalt, copper, gold, and diamonds. However, despite this wealth, the country remains impoverished, and its people have not benefited from these resources that should fuel economic growth.
Since its independence in 1960, the DRC has maintained diplomatic relations with the U.S., but its resources have been largely exploited by foreign corporations, particularly Western companies.
These corporations profit from mining activities while little of the wealth is reinvested in the local economy. The struggle for control over these resources has fueled violent conflict, with armed factions and militant groups often involved in the illegal extraction of minerals.
This has left the Congolese people in poverty, with limited access to education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure.
African humanitarian and military forces, such as South African peacekeepers, have been actively involved in stabilizing the DRC but have faced heavy casualties. South African troops, in particular, have lost lives in their efforts to protect civilians and support peacekeeping missions in the region.
These losses highlight the risks faced by African forces trying to bring stability to a country plagued by internal conflict and external exploitation.
The DRC’s mineral wealth has not translated into development due to corruption, mismanagement, and the ongoing exploitation of resources by foreign interests. The country remains unstable, with its wealth benefiting external players rather than the Congolese population.
