Mining Wealth of DRC: How the US got Hooked?

May 2, 2025

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In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. strategy reveals its contradictions. On one hand, companies like KoBold Metals (backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) are making major investments in cobalt and copper extraction. On the other hand, Washington offers conditional military support in the east of the country while positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict with Rwanda.

(3 Minutes Read)

Key aspects of US mineral interest in the DRC include critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper are essential for various technologies, including electric vehicles, defense, and renewable energy.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. strategy reveals its contradictions. On one hand, companies like KoBold Metals (backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos) are making major investments in cobalt and copper extraction. On the other hand, Washington offers conditional military support in the east of the country while positioning itself as a mediator in the conflict with Rwanda.

The US has a growing interest in the mineral resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly as it seeks to diversify its supply of critical minerals and reduce reliance on China. This interest is driven by the DRC’s vast and diverse mineral wealth, including significant reserves of cobalt, copper, tin, tantalum, and lithium. The US is exploring potential deals offering American companies access to these minerals in exchange for security assistance to the DRC, potentially helping to quell decades-long insurgency.

The US aims to reduce its reliance on China, which dominates global refining of these minerals. The DRC’s mineral wealth provides a potential opportunity to diversify supply sources. The DRC has proposed a deal offering mineral access in exchange for US security assistance, including training, equipment, and potentially direct military support to combat armed groups.

The US hopes that supporting the DRC’s mineral development will foster economic growth and provide employment, potentially diminishing the appeal of armed rebellion. The US and DRC are in talks about a minerals deal, with the possibility of American companies receiving exclusive rights to the DRC’s critical mineral wealth in exchange for security assistance.