The United States is in talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on a potential agreement to grant access to critical minerals in exchange for support in addressing insecurity in the east.
U.S. Senior Adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, confirmed the discussions after meeting President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa. According to a Reuters report, he said both sides had “agreed on a path forward”. However, the full details of the deal are still undisclosed.
The talks follow a proposal by a Congolese senator, who suggested that American support in tackling armed groups could be matched by access to the country’s mineral wealth. It is important to note that the DRC is rich in cobalt, lithium, uranium, copper, and gold, minerals essential to modern technology such as electric vehicles and smartphones. China currently dominates the sector.
Eastern Congo has faced decades of unrest, with more than 100 armed groups fighting for control of mineral-rich territories. The conflict has displaced over seven million people, including more than 100,000 in 2025 alone.
As earlier reported, the M23 rebel group, widely believed to receive backing from Rwanda, has led recent offensives. It has captured several key towns this year, including Goma and Bukavu. Last week, M23 forces withdrew from Walikale, a major mining town in North Kivu. The group cited its unilateral ceasefire as the reason for this decision.
The United States is also pursuing a similar minerals arrangement with Ukraine. Both moves are aimed at taking hold of essential minerals in these nations.
For Africa, such deals raise concerns because, without strong governance, mineral-for-security arrangements could worsen inequality and sideline local communities. There is already increased foreign competition for African resources. While the details of the negotiations are not public yet, the key question is whether the DRC and Africa will gain fair terms or face a repeat of past extractive relationships that enriched outsiders at the expense of local populations.
