The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has rejected claims that it has “sold off” its mineral wealth to the United States under a recent agreement granting Washington access to key reserves, as global competition for critical resources intensifies. Mining Minister Louis Watum said the December accord, signed alongside a peace initiative aimed at calming conflict in eastern DRC, simply creates a framework for discussions with US firms on potential investments. He stressed that any projects would comply strictly with the country’s mining code.
The deal opens the door to cooperation in copper, cobalt, coltan, and lithium, minerals essential for batteries, defence technologies, artificial intelligence infrastructure, and the energy transition. The DRC is the world’s leading cobalt producer, accounting for roughly three-quarters of global output, and holds some of the largest untapped deposits of these resources.
Officials say only about 10 percent of the country’s mineral potential is currently developed. A joint steering committee is expected to review a list of strategic projects submitted by Kinshasa in the coming weeks. Watum said the DRC’s priority is domestic development, including jobs and education for its population of about 120 million, and that the country remains open to multiple partners despite US-China competition in the sector.
