The United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda signed a new framework to connect security and mineral governance.

¬ The United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Rwanda have signed a new framework that incorporates mineral sourcing, governance reform, and security cooperation into a strategic agreement

¬ The deal formalizes supply chains, strengthens Kinshasa's control over eastern minerals, and creates an alternative to China's dominance backed by the US

¬ Implementation depends on improving security in the eastern DRC; ongoing instability could undermine the framework's economic and strategic goals

The United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Rwanda have signed a new cooperation framework in Washington, redefining how key minerals and regional security are managed. A set of agreements established around the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF/CIER) and two strategic partnership agreements (SPAs) between the governments of Washington and the two African nations has created a system that formally links mineral sourcing, governance reforms, and security commitments. This is the first time the US has integrated defense cooperation, supply chain oversight, and resource extraction into a single policy structure for Central Africa.

The new framework aims to formalize the mineral economy and reduce the impact of informal channels through which minerals are extracted in the east of the DRC. By requiring direct negotiations with Kinshasa for access to mining areas, these agreements aim to limit funding flows to armed groups that have long benefited from parallel networks. Congolese authorities emphasize that this shift strengthens state power in the region while increasing the predictability and legitimacy of mineral exports. For the US, it provides a more direct route to ensure a stable supply of cobalt, copper, tungsten, and other strategic resources.

By integrating governance benchmarks and defense cooperation, the framework goes beyond traditional investment treaties. They formally establish Washington's role in supporting security sector reforms in the DRC and Rwanda. In return, US companies gain a more transparent and regulated environment for investments in mining operations and related infrastructure. This approach links security incentives with economic interests, positioning the US as a stabilizing actor in a region where mineral production is vital to global supply chains.

Private sector involvement is already evident in the implementation of this framework. The recent shipment of tungsten concentrate from Rwanda's Nkombi mine to a refinery in Pennsylvania illustrates the US' intention to expand traceable and legal supply chains. Companies such as KoBold Metals and Starlink are being integrated into broader infrastructure developments, including the development of the Lobito Corridor, which is expected to become a major mineral export route from Central Africa to Atlantic ports. These initiatives reflect Washington's strategy of combining industrial investment with geopolitical positioning.

The agreement also introduces a competitive alternative to China's dominant position in the DRC's cobalt and copper belt. By embedding transparency requirements, traceability systems, and security guarantees, the US is building a supply chain architecture that may limit the operational space of Chinese companies unable or unwilling to meet the new standards. This adds a strategic dimension to what has traditionally been an economic competition.