After months of delays, Kinshasa accelerates its mining partnership with Washington

The initiative is intended to transform commitments made with Washington into tangible economic and security outcomes, according to the Cabinet meeting report. The DRC plays a central role in global supply chains for critical minerals such as cobalt and copper, two resources at the heart of the competition to secure industrial supplies.

The partnership has already led to an investment supported by the United States through Virtus Minerals and the expansion of copper marketing agreements between Gécamines and traders Mercuria and Glencore. Reuters reports that Kinshasa is seeking to diversify its funding sources and attract more Western capital into its mining sector.

However, the adoption of the decree does not mark the absolute beginning of coordination. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa had chaired the first meeting of the Task Force on June 11. At that time, the government indicated it had already received an initial list of strategic asset reserves and submitted around fifty development projects to the American side.

National Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba also clarified that the partnership does not rely solely on American funding. For major projects, including Inga, Kinshasa and Washington plan to coordinate resource mobilization from other investors and financial partners.

This acceleration comes as Congolese exports to Western markets are becoming increasingly significant. By early September, the DRC had established itself as the second-largest supplier of copper to the United States amid rising American imports. The Cabinet meeting on September 11 adopted the decree on the Task Force among seven texts covering various sectors.