The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has formally offered the United States a shortlist of state-owned mining assets as part of a growing strategic minerals partnership aimed at reshaping global supply chains.
The shortlist, recently submitted to Washington, includes high-value manganese, copper-cobalt, lithium, gold and coltan projects held by major state-owned mining firms, including Gecamines, Cominiere and Sokimo.
The move follows a US-brokered peace and cooperation pact between Congo and Rwanda and reflects Washington’s broader effort to reduce its dependence on China, which currently dominates global mineral refining and processing.
According to sources familiar with the initiative, the offer is part of a wider framework designed to attract American investment into Congo’s mining sector while strengthening supply chain resilience for critical minerals essential to clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing.
To oversee the process, both countries have established a Joint Steering Committee made up of senior officials from Kinshasa and Washington. The committee will coordinate due diligence, facilitate negotiations and guide American investors interested in evaluating and potentially acquiring stakes in the listed mining assets.
For the Congolese government, the move represents a strategic pivot toward deeper economic and investment ties with the United States, as well as an effort to diversify partnerships beyond traditional players in the mining sector.
Analysts say the initiative could significantly alter the balance of influence in Africa’s minerals industry if successfully implemented, while also boosting Congo’s position as a central player in global efforts to secure critical mineral supplies.
