A US official from President Donald Trump’s administration has announced they are in discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) regarding the development of its mineral resources. Massad Boulos, the senior advisor for Africa, mentioned that this potential agreement could possibly involve billions of dollars in investments. He recently met with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa amid speculation about a possible trade-off involving minerals for security. Bouchos stated that the US reviewed the Congo’s proposal and agreed upon a way forward for its development. American companies, he said, would operate transparently and stimulate local economies. The DRC is the world’s leading producer of cobalt, a mineral used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones, and also has substantial reserves of gold, diamonds, and copper. Unfortunately, the country is dealing with an armed insurgency by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the eastern region where many of these minerals are located. This has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over seven million people, with a record number facing extreme hunger. According to Tshisekedi, the US deal might assist in ensuring his country’s safety.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/04/04/us-holds-talks-with-kinshasa-on-developing-the-dr-congos-mineral-resources/