• DRC and the US are nearing a deal granting mineral access in exchange for security support.

• The agreement could counter China’s mining dominance and aid M23 conflict resolution.

• Talks follow a $1B US-backed investment in DRC’s Manono lithium deposit.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking to balance China's dominance in the mining sector. The world’s leading producer of cobalt is betting on new partnerships, particularly with the United States. The finalization of the mineral agreement could support this drive.

A final agreement on minerals between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States could be reached by the end of June, according to sources cited by the Financial Times on May 25. A fresh round of negotiations between stakeholders is slated for this week in Washington, but the specifics of the deal are not yet known.

This development occurs over a week after US Special Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, announced the presentation of a preliminary peace accord to the authorities in Congo and Rwanda. Notably, the current agreement under negotiation is expected to grant Washington access to critical Congolese minerals in return for American support in resolving the conflict with M23 rebels in eastern DRC.

A separate peace agreement is also being discussed with Rwanda, which would allow both countries to establish a “legal and transparent” minerals supply chain, in partnership with the US government and private investors.

The conclusion of a mineral agreement with the US should also fit into Kinshasa’s plan to counterbalance Chinese dominance in its mining sector. From Washington’s side, it could secure a new vital source for critical minerals supply such as cobalt, in which DRC is the world’s leading supplier. The African country is also the second-largest producer of copper, as well as a significant producer of tin and coltan.

While we await further details on the terms of the deal, it’s worth noting that American interest in the Congolese subsoil has already extended to lithium, another highly sought-after metal in the energy transition. In early May, KoBold Metals, an American company backed by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, announced the signing of a frame agreement aiming to invest one billion USD to exploit a portion of the Manono lithium deposit in the country.