Resource Paper: Implications of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Offer to Washington for Mineral Exploitation

On March 9, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced America’s openness to partnership with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in the vital mining sector. This initiative aligns with a new approach to U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2025, primarily focusing on securing global access to resources and natural wealth. The anticipated agreement with the DRC government forms part of this new American strategy towards Africa.

In February, some U.S. newspapers reported initial talks between the DRC and U.S. governments regarding a potential security deal. Kinshasa proposed to the Trump administration access to mineral sites in eastern Congo and control over one of the maritime ports in its territorial waters for storage and export operations. In exchange, American forces would train and equip the Congolese army to protect mineral supply routes from regionally supported rebel movements. However, some argue this contradicts Trump’s stance on withdrawing U.S. troops stationed abroad, in line with his “America First” principle.

This reflects several attempts by the Congolese government to persuade the U.S. administration to finalize the deal. On March 17, 2025, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi met with U.S. Special Envoy Senator Ronny Jackson to discuss American investment opportunities in the DRC and the clashes in the eastern region. Furthermore, Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting a partnership between Washington and Kinshasa in the mining sector.

While the potential agreement seems mainly economic and security-focused, it does not obscure the other geopolitical dimensions this step reflects from Kinshasa’s government. It highlights the complexities of regional and international relations in the Great Lakes region, directly tied to the future of the ongoing conflict between Rwanda and the DRC in the near future. It also opens the possibility for the DRC to become a new battleground for American-Chinese competition, with Washington striving to counter China’s growing influence in the Congolese mining sector. This scenario reveals the international scramble, particularly from the U.S., to gain leverage in the regional security equation of the Great Lakes region amid escalating tensions and conflicts in eastern Congo. The situation underscores the fierce competition among major powers for African resources, particularly essential minerals relied upon in advanced technological industries and clean energy.

The proposed deal from the DRC can be viewed as a bargaining chip for Tshisekedi’s government to secure U.S. support in containing the threats posed by the March 23 Movement and undermining Rwandan efforts to threaten the Congolese interior, which would allow it to seize mineral wealth as claimed by Kinshasa. Consequently, through this proposal, the DRC aims to balance the benefits from American investments—which could counter Chinese influence in the mining sector—with maintaining its national sovereignty regarding the protection of its natural resources.

The significance of this proposal is reflected in Kinshasa’s contracting of some American lobbying groups for a cost of $1.4 million to promote the potential deal within American political circles and push for its ratification by the United States.

Revealing Implications

This move unveils many implications that reflect the nature of interactions within the Congolese scene at both regional and international levels. Notable implications include:

Strategic Importance of the DRC in Minerals: The DRC possesses vast reserves of essential minerals, totaling nearly 50, producing over 70% of the world’s cobalt, a critical element in lithium battery production for computers, phones, electric vehicles, jet engines, and turbines. Additionally, the DRC is Africa’s top producer of copper and the second-largest globally, holding 70% of the world’s coltan. Reports indicate that Kinshasa is home to approximately $24 trillion worth of untapped mineral resources, including tantalum used in capacitors and semiconductors, tin utilized in chemicals and energy, as well as uranium, diamonds, gold, zinc, copper, and manganese. This makes it a focal point for influential global powers aiming to enhance their presence in Africa.

Bolstering Tshisekedi’s Legitimacy in the DRC: The potential success of President Tshisekedi—should he secure American political and security support following the alleged deal—could lead to the end of the rebellion in eastern Congo and halt the looting of essential minerals shipped to Rwanda, likely diminishing its destabilizing role from Kinshasa’s perspective in eastern Congo. This could strengthen Tshisekedi’s internal position, especially as his grip on power has become increasingly shaky amid mounting political opposition seeking to exploit this situation to undermine the ruling regime’s legitimacy.

Seeking U.S. Support Against Rebellion and Terrorism: Tshisekedi’s proposal for a deal with the U.S. (minerals for security) reveals the Congolese army’s failure to contain the risks and threats from the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement, alongside the growing activities of certain terrorist organizations like the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), aligned with ISIS in Central Africa, responsible for numerous attacks in eastern Congo. This scenario elucidates the factors contributing to the Congolese military’s increasing vulnerability, primarily corruption, factional interests, low soldier wages, and inadequate weaponry.

In this context, some African leaders continue to rely on U.S. support, recognizing that Washington still holds substantial leverage in the international arena in Africa, despite a relative American decline in recent years. The DRC has expressed its intention to expand its international security alliances with Washington, particularly seeking a contract with the private military company Blackwater, owned by Eric Prince, a close Trump ally. Reports indicate that a delegation from the firm visited the DRC for talks with the government regarding cooperation in combating tax evasion by mineral producers and exporters.

Pressuring Rwanda to Withdraw Support for Rebellion: President Tshisekedi seeks to call on Washington to engage in his country’s crisis in order to exert further pressure on Rwanda to cease its support for the March 23 rebel movement in eastern Congo, which has escalated its activities in recent years, including recently seizing two major cities, Bukavu and Goma. The American administration has taken early steps in this regard, with the U.S. Treasury Department announcing new sanctions against Rwandan State Minister for Regional Integration, James Kabarebe, and the spokesperson for the March 23 Movement, Lawrence Kanyuka, due to their support for rebellion and terrorism in eastern Congo.

In this context, the Congolese government is aware that a potential agreement with Washington could halt the looting and exporting of minerals supervised by Rwanda, as alleged by Kinshasa. A United Nations report suggested that the Rwandan government had seized 150 tons of coltan from Congolese mines.

Accordingly, this move is viewed as a challenge to Rwanda, especially after accusations of plundering Kinshasa’s resources and minerals. This has pushed the latter to demand that Washington directly purchase essential minerals from it instead of Rwanda—which has been looting them—arguing that Congolese are the rightful owners. In this framework, Kinshasa aims to undermine Rwanda’s agreement with the European Union, termed “cash for minerals,” accusing the Congolese government of collusion with Kigali in the country’s theft.

Therefore, the DRC seeks to end the rebellion in its eastern region, with reports suggesting that the March 23 Movement imposes taxes on mining activities, reportedly charging nearly $800,000 monthly from a single coltan mine in the Rubaya area of North Kivu. This situation may have prompted Cornel Nanga, leader of the March 23 rebels, to assert that the proposed mineral deal between the DRC and the U.S. would not halt the fighting in eastern Congo, indicating the movement’s refusal to partner with Washington in the mining sector.

Erosion of Kinshasa’s Confidence in Negotiations: The negotiation process facilitated by Angola under the African Union’s umbrella has not yielded positive results in persuading the DRC and Rwanda to reach a settlement to end the armed conflict in eastern Congo, involving the March 23 Movement. Despite an agreement between Congolese President Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who met in Doha, Qatar, on a ceasefire in eastern Congo, the March 23 Movement has intensified its activities by taking over key cities, Goma and Bukavu. It appears that Kinshasa has realized the ineffectiveness of negotiation efforts with Rwanda, prompting it to turn towards Washington to secure a deal that grants it access to essential minerals in exchange for American assistance in the eastern Congo crisis to contain security threats, including compelling Rwanda to withdraw its support for the rebel movement.

Washington’s Efforts to Secure Vital Minerals in Africa: The new American approach towards Africa under the Trump administration appears primarily focused on acquiring African resources and wealth, as highlighted by “Project 2025,” which illustrates the Trump campaign’s emphasis on the importance of seizing natural resources in African countries. Trump has made access for U.S. companies to natural resources a cornerstone of American foreign policy, linking security acquisition to the seizure of vital minerals globally. This approach became evident in Washington’s discussions with Ukraine to gain 50% of Ukrainian rare minerals in exchange for continued U.S. aid to Kyiv in its military confrontations against Russia.

In this context, it is understood that the minerals owned by the Democratic Republic of the Congo are critical for the U.S. Hence, American companies strive to control African resources and minerals for the benefit of the U.S. sovereign wealth fund established by Trump. This aims to secure its modern technological industries, primarily reliant on essential minerals like cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum, enhancing competitiveness in the international market for advanced technological industries, especially against leading Chinese companies in this domain.

Targeting U.S. Efforts to Counter Chinese Influence in Kinshasa: Since Trump’s ascension, there have been U.S. endeavors to break China’s grip on African mineral resources. The potential agreement could present an opportunity for Washington to counter China’s established presence in the mining sector of the DRC and reduce its reliance on it as the world’s largest refiner of basic minerals. Chinese corporations dominate mining operations, holding significant shares in Congolese copper and cobalt production, controlling about 80% of mining activities in the DRC. Tshisekedi’s policy shift presents a rare opportunity for the U.S. to establish supply chains for essential minerals.

This American approach aligns with Kinshasa’s efforts, which view collaboration with the U.S. as an effective strategy to diversify its export destinations and mitigate the intensifying Chinese influence in the country’s mining sector.

Potential Consequences

President Tshisekedi’s proposal to the U.S. carries numerous potential consequences at domestic, regional, and international levels. Key consequences include:

Likelihood of Increasing Domestic Protests in the DRC: Political opposition in the DRC may exploit Tshisekedi’s government’s approach of relinquishing essential minerals to the U.S. in exchange for assistance in quelling the rebellion in eastern Congo by calling for mass protests against Tshisekedi’s decision and forcing him to abandon his proposal before it transforms into an official agreement with Washington. This could adversely affect President Tshisekedi’s popularity, which already faces crises amid political, economic, and security tensions in the country, potentially leading to a new wave of internal instability.

Kinshasa’s Possible Move to Abandon UN Forces: The Congolese government may consider dispensing with the United Nations peacekeeping mission should the potential deal with Washington finalize, as Tshisekedi’s administration regards it as ineffective in the country. However, this depends on the extent to which the Congolese president can persuade Washington to deploy American troops on the ground to contain the rebellion in eastern Congo—something that appears challenging considering Trump’s leanings since assuming office towards withdrawing American soldiers and avoiding entanglements in external conflicts. Nevertheless, such intentions could shift as he seeks to acquire vital minerals in rich regions, particularly in Africa.

Increased Strategic Importance of the Lobito Corridor Project: If Washington concludes this deal, American influence concerning the acquisition of essential minerals in the area is likely to grow, particularly as U.S. presence could expedite the completion of the Lobito Corridor project, funded by Washington, linking mines in Zambia and southeastern Congo to the Lobito port in Angola and onward to warm waters. This development may bolster American supplies for mineral supply chains while concurrently delivering a strong blow to the rising Chinese influence in the region.

Encouraging Foreign Investments in the DRC: Washington is expected to encourage American companies operating in the mining sector and investors to inject direct investments into the DRC’s mining industry, which may enhance American economic presence on the continent and open new opportunities for American businesses away from the control of strategic competitors like China and the European Union.

Rising American Interest in the Great Lakes Region: This area seems poised to become a new battleground for international competition amid the race among active powers for critical resources and minerals needed to bolster their advanced technological industries. Washington aims to strengthen its presence in the region, leveraging the Congolese government’s calls for involvement in the crisis. Reports suggest that President Trump intends to appoint a special American envoy for the area, reflecting U.S. interest in enhancing its presence in the DRC in light of the potential for an important bilateral agreement concerning strategic minerals in the near future.

Overall, it appears that President Tshisekedi is on the verge of entangling his country in an arena of international competition, particularly the American-Chinese rivalry over resources and critical minerals. This could widen the field for more international powers like Russia and Turkey, further entrenching foreign dominance over African resources. Ultimately, this could lead to Tshisekedi’s failure to achieve his goals of ending the rebellion in the eastern DRC and compel Rwanda to withdraw its support for the March 23 Movement while halting its plunder of Congolese minerals. It is unlikely that Washington, should it finalize the deal with Kinshasa’s government, would agree to deploy ground troops in eastern Congo; nevertheless, it may offer logistical support to bolster the Congolese army’s capabilities against the rebels.

However, the sole benefactor remains President Trump, known for his deal-making prowess, especially as this marks the first time a foreign leader has presented such an offer. This occurs at a time when he finds it difficult to navigate other similar deals, like with Ukraine, reinforcing predictions that Africa could become the next strategic playground for Trump to finalize numerous reciprocal agreements with African nations. This may usher in a new phase of increased American influence in the African landscape over the next four years at least.