Key facts
- Congo has approved a "DRC-USA Task Force" to accelerate its strategic minerals partnership with the United States.
- The partnership aims to attract more Western investment and challenge China's dominance in critical mineral supply chains.
- The deal has already facilitated U.S.-backed mining investment through Virtus Minerals.
- Expanded copper offtake arrangements were made between state miner Gecamines and traders Mercuria and Glencore.
- Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba stated the task force would help translate commitments into "concrete economic and security results."
- The task force's composition and priority projects were not detailed.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has established a task force to expedite its strategic minerals partnership with the United States, according to cabinet minutes seen by Reuters. This move is part of Congo's broader strategy to diversify its funding sources away from China and bolster ties with Washington, which is aiming to reduce China's influence over critical mineral supply chains.
Congo, the world's leading cobalt producer and a significant copper exporter, signed the partnership agreement with the U.S. in December. This collaboration has already led to U.S.-backed mining investments via Virtus Minerals and enhanced copper offtake agreements between the state-owned mining company Gecamines and traders Mercuria and Glencore, thereby increasing Congolese sales to Western markets.
The "DRC-USA Task Force" was formally approved on September 11 to accelerate the execution of the partnership. Economy Minister Daniel Mukoko Samba informed ministers that the task force would help convert the partnership's commitments into tangible economic and security benefits for Congolese citizens. However, details regarding the task force's composition and its priority projects remain undisclosed. A government official noted that the task force's operationalization was initially planned for February but faced administrative delays, though partnership implementation has continued.
In a related decision at the same meeting, ministers approved a record budget of $24.8 billion for 2027, a 12% increase from the current year's revised spending plan. The government's priorities for this budget include infrastructure, security, and economic diversification.