The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has provided U.S. authorities with a shortlisted portfolio of state-controlled mineral assets for American investors to consider within the framework of a minerals partnership, according to two senior Congolese officials familiar with the matter. This list, delivered last week to U.S. officials, constitutes the most concrete progress to date in translating Washington's peace and investment agreements with Kinshasa into tangible influence over a critical segment of global mineral supplies.
Since a peace accord brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump between DR Congo and Rwanda aimed at easing longstanding tensions in the mineral-rich eastern regions, American agencies have intensified efforts to secure strategic metals. Notably, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation has entered into a minerals marketing agreement with the state mining company Gecamines and has supported major infrastructure upgrades, including the $553 million Lobito Corridor project.
The officials did not disclose any valuations concerning the assets included in the shortlist.
Extensive Internal Review
The shortlist has undergone several rounds of scrutiny and internal approval within the Congolese government, reflecting Kinshasa’s most direct proposal to date for U.S. investors to evaluate these state-held minerals projects. Both sources requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information and because they were not authorised to comment publicly. Attempts to obtain immediate feedback from the Congolese government and the U.S. State Department were unsuccessful.
The urgency surrounding the U.S. engagement is driven by the global race to diversify critical raw material supply chains and reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates the refining and processing sectors for copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth minerals. The International Energy Agency notes that China processes between 47% and 87% of these strategic minerals worldwide. Chinese firms such as CMOC, the largest cobalt exporter primarily sourcing from DR Congo, alongside Zijin and Huayou, are active players in the Congolese mining sector, exporting significant quantities of cobalt and copper.
One official clarified that the offered assets are those under state-owned entities that have not yet been allocated through joint ventures or farm-outs. The second official reaffirmed that all actions adhere strictly to Congolese legal frameworks.
Assets on Offer
The asset shortlist encompasses a diversity of mineral licenses and projects from multiple Congolese state entities. This includes manganese, gold, and cassiterite permits held by Kisenge; the Mutoshi copper-cobalt project and a germanium processing initiative by Gecamines; four gold permits managed by Sokimo; lithium concessions owned by Cominiere; and the coltan, gold, and wolframite holdings of Sakima.
Implementation Through a Joint Committee
The consolidated asset list has been presented to the Joint Steering Committee for American investors, a bilateral body comprising representatives from both DR Congo and the United States. This committee has been established to oversee the execution of the minerals partnership. The next steps involve scheduling the initial committee meeting and commencing discussions around partnership implementation and contractual negotiations.
A document reviewed by Reuters shows that DR Congo's delegation to this joint committee includes high-ranking officials such as the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Daniel Mukoko Samba, as well as the ministers of foreign affairs, mines, and finance, and the head of the minerals regulatory authority ARECOMS.
At the time of reporting, Gecamines and Sokimo had not responded to requests for comment, while no immediate statements were available from Mutoshi, Sakima, or Cominiere.