The United States is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as Kinshasa seeks to diversify its economic allies, a U.S. State Department official has said.
This comes as Congo faces ongoing conflicts with M23 rebels, which it accuses Rwanda of backing.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department informed Reuters on Sunday that the U.S. remains willing to discuss potential partnerships in Congo’s mining sector.
“The United States is open to discussing partnerships in this sector that align with our economic and security interests,” the spokesperson said, adding that Congo holds “a significant share of the world’s critical minerals required for advanced technologies.”
Congo is home to vast deposits of cobalt, lithium, and uranium key minerals for batteries and clean energy technologies.
While China dominates the mineral supply chain in the region, the Congolese government has expressed interest in attracting American investment.
As part of efforts to stabilize prices and manage supply, Congo recently imposed a four months ban on mineral exports due to a market surplus.
The move has added urgency to the government’s push for new trade deals and investment partnerships.
Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya recently said that the country is actively looking to expand its partnerships beyond its existing allies.
“There is a desire for us to diversify our partners,” Muyaya said last week. “If American investors are interested in coming to the DRC, obviously they will find space.”
The U.S. has been working to increase private sector investment in Congo’s mining sector while promoting responsible and transparent mining practices, the State Department noted.
However, American companies currently do not have direct mining operations in the country.
Discussions about a minerals partnership gained traction after Congolese Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi reportedly reached out to U.S. officials with a proposal linking mineral investments to regional security assistance.
However, sources within the Congolese government said the initiative was not officially sanctioned by President Félix Tshisekedi’s administration.
Earlier this month, Andre Wameso, deputy chief of staff to President Tshisekedi, traveled to Washington for talks on a possible partnership, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
A Congolese delegation was also scheduled to meet with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 6 but canceled the meeting at the last minute, sources said.
