The United States is reportedly nearing an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) that would allow American companies to gain increased control over critical mineral resources. In exchange, the DR Congo government would receive greater support. Massad Boulos, recently appointed as Africa adviser by US President Donald Trump, stated that he has reviewed the preliminary details of the agreement and reached a “path forward” with DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi.
The deal aims to encourage US private sector investments in DR Congo, with a particular focus on the mining industry, according to a video statement from Boulos released by the Congolese government. Under the terms of the agreement, the US International Development Finance Corporation is expected to back some investments from the US in the central African nation, said Joseph Szlavik, a Washington-based lobbyist advising the Congolese government.
The framework is structured to attract companies that are not solely American, although US businesses are anticipated to begin investing in DR Congo’s lithium reserves. The plan also seeks to challenge China’s dominance over the country’s copper and cobalt resources.
Among the companies considering involvement is KoBold Metals, a mining and artificial intelligence start-up backed by Bill Gates, which is interested in the substantial but legally contested Manono lithium deposit. Other potential participants include Orion Resource Partners, mining investor Robert Friedland, British-Australian miner Rio Tinto, and Saudi Arabia’s United Mining, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
KoBold, Orion, and Rio Tinto have declined to comment on the matter, while Friedland and United Mining have not responded to information requests.
Other discussions involve copper and cobalt resources managed by Dubai-based Chemaf, a company supported by Singapore’s Trafigura. Chemaf, which has been seeking new ownership since 2023 after a proposed sale to China’s Norinco was thwarted by opposition from Congo’s state mining company Gécamines, declined to comment.
No immediate response has been received from the White House regarding requests for comments on the agreement.
In February, DR Congo, which is rich in minerals such as copper, cobalt, coltan, tin, and uranium, approached the US with a proposal to offer mining rights in return for government support. This proposal coincides with Washington’s efforts to establish a broader minerals agreement in Ukraine. However, the nature of US involvement to reinforce security in DR Congo remains uncertain.
The security situation in DR Congo is notably more complex than in Ukraine, with ongoing conflict involving the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and over 140 armed groups active in the country’s east. Nevertheless, Congolese officials hope the deal will bolster support for Tshisekedi as he contends with the M23 insurrection, which has resulted in the capture of mineral-rich territories and the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Before departing Kinshasa for weekend discussions with leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, Boulos expressed the goal of achieving lasting peace that respects DR Congo’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, laying a foundation for a prosperous regional economy.
Szlavik, speaking from Kinshasa, noted that the US had previously facilitated an agreement causing Rwandan-backed insurgents to withdraw from an area close to the Alphamin Resources tin mine in eastern Congo. Denham Capital, a US-based firm, holds the majority share in Alphamin. The mine contributed significantly to global tin production last year, and its capture affected tin prices and Alphamin’s stock value. In return for the insurgents’ withdrawal, the DR Congo government suspended drone attacks in the region, although Alphamin declined to comment.
Rwanda refutes reports from the UN and Western governments alleging its support and arming of the M23 rebels for mineral exploitation in DR Congo. Szlavik emphasized that Washington remains realistic about Rwandan involvement. The ongoing mineral deal discussions and Boulos’s participation, given his connection to Trump’s family, signal the US’s commitment to Congolese sovereignty.
Szlavik highlighted the substantial informal trade, including mineral smuggling, in DR Congo’s eastern regions, where armed groups capitalize on the instability. The US proposes infrastructure development, such as road construction, instead of arms purchases, aiming for a regional plan where all parties can conduct business. This could potentially involve creating an industrial zone in Congo to export processed metals through neighboring countries.
Despite these plans, comparisons to the US’s minerals deal initiative with Ukraine reveal that the DR Congo agreement lacks detail, according to Washington-based Africa experts. Boulos’s upcoming meetings with Uganda’s Museveni and Rwanda’s Kagame are crucial, as their tacit support is essential given their military influence in DR Congo’s borders and proxy involvement.
