Congo (Kinshasa) officials confident of signing agreement with U.S.

According to a report by Reuters cited on Mining.com, officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) believe they can reach an agreement with the US next month, which would secure US investment in critical minerals and, with US support, enable them to address rebel forces in the eastern part of the country, the Financial Times (FT) reported on the 25th.

Reuters reported last week that under an agreement brokered by the US, minerals such as tungsten, tantalum, and tin from the DRC could be legally exported to Rwanda for processing. The DRC has long accused Rwanda of illegally mining these minerals.

Citing two sources close to the negotiations, the FT said that an investment agreement with the US and a separate peace agreement with Rwanda are expected to be reached "by the end of June." However, the FT believes that potential obstacles remain significant.

Reuters was unable to confirm this report.

According to the FT, Kizito Pakabomba, the Minister of Mines, stated that the agreement with the US would help "diversify partnerships" and attract more countries to invest in the development of the country's rich mineral resources.

The DRC believes that the M23 movement's looting of minerals in its eastern region is the root cause of the conflict between government forces and the rebels, with tens of millions of US dollars' worth of minerals being smuggled into Rwanda each month.

Massad Boulos, a senior advisor to US President Trump, said earlier this month that while signing mineral agreements that would bring billions of US dollars in Western investment to the region, the US is also pushing for the DRC and Rwanda to sign a peace agreement this summer.

On Sunday, a US State Department spokesperson told Reuters, "Both countries have committed to working to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the eastern DRC and to enhance transparency in the natural resource supply chain. Respect for the territorial integrity of each country is a priority."

According to the FT, Yolande Makolo, the spokesperson for the Rwandan government, stated that as long as threats and insecurity persist in the DRC, it is necessary for Rwanda to take defensive measures along the border.