Congo (Kinshasa) is set to reach a minerals agreement with the United States, boasting of "reducing dependence on China."

[Text/Observer Network Wang Yi] The Financial Times reported on May 25 that officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are optimistic that they can reach an agreement with the United States before the end of June, in which the U.S. is committed to investing in the country's critical minerals and will also help address the insurgency in the eastern region.

Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba of the DRC boasted to the newspaper that reaching an agreement with the U.S. would help "diversify our partnership" and reduce the country's dependence on China in mining its abundant mineral resources.

The majority of copper and cobalt producers in the DRC are Chinese enterprises, while light gray indicates "non-Chinese enterprises".

However, the Financial Times pointed out that the scope of the DRC's negotiations with the U.S. is very ambitious, aiming not only to allow U.S. companies access to lithium, cobalt, and columbite-tantalite in exchange for investment in infrastructure and mines but also to strive to end a 30-year conflict with Rwanda in border areas; "potential obstacles remain significant."

For a long time, the DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel group M23 Movement, using security issues along the Rwandan border as a "smokescreen" to plunder the DRC's mineral resources. The Rwandan government denies supporting the M23 Movement and claims that their army is defending against domestic adversaries at the border.

Since January this year, tensions have escalated between the two sides, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of smuggling tens of millions of dollars' worth of minerals across the border each month for sale in Rwanda. The Financial Times reported that the agreement currently being negotiated between the DRC and the U.S. may ease this conflict and lay the groundwork for cooperation between the DRC and neighboring countries like Rwanda in metal exports and processing.

However, sources familiar with the matter said that Rwanda hopes to legally acquire the DRC's mineral resources through negotiations, attract U.S. investment to expand its existing metal processing industry. On the other hand, the DRC wants "M23 Movement" to withdraw from the territories it has occupied since January, and for Rwandan troops to withdraw from the border before considering allowing Rwanda to participate in the DRC's mineral trade.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo stated that "as long as threats and insecurity persist in the DRC, Rwanda's defensive measures in border areas are necessary." Makolo emphasized that what is more important than when any peace agreement is reached is that it must "address the root causes and be lasting."

The report analyzes that these differences highlight the difficulty of reaching peace agreements and mineral agreements.

Reuters reported that amid escalating tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, the U.S. has been pushing for both parties to sign a peace agreement and a mineral agreement this summer, planning to bring billions of dollars of Western investment to the region.

On April 25, under the witness of U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda signed a declaration of principles in Washington, committing to draft a peace agreement before May 2 to promote peace in the eastern region of the DRC.

On April 25, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and the foreign ministers of the DRC and Rwanda signed the declaration of principles. AP

A source close to the negotiations told the Financial Times that Trump's special envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, his daughter's father-in-law, called for another round of talks in Washington next week to eliminate some differences.

Public opinion outside believes that the U.S.' active mediation between the DRC and Rwanda marks a deeper shift in its foreign policy. For decades, U.S. foreign policy has followed oil, but now with China investing in critical minerals worldwide, the U.S. also hopes to regain its footing in the mining sector.

The website "World Politics Review" published an article on the 20th stating that in the new resource geopolitics of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, control over critical minerals rather than oil determines a country's dominance in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and green technologies. The actions taken by the Trump administration in Central Africa, including the ongoing mediation of peace agreements between the DRC and Rwanda, reflect the strategic importance of the DRC's mineral wealth.

The DRC is the world's largest producer of cobalt and has large reserves of copper. The article states that the U.S. hopes to stabilize Africa through this diplomatic engagement and ensure access to key minerals that power next-generation technologies. The U.S. commitment to "major investments driven by the government and the private sector" is clearly aimed at challenging China's dominant position in the critical mineral supply chain.

However, the article points out that the prospects for mineral deals require careful consideration. The U.S. and the DRC have had long-term trade relations, often prioritizing the acquisition of critical minerals over good governance.

During World War II, the DRC was the largest supplier of uranium to the U.S. After independence in the 1960s, the U.S. viewed Prime Minister Lumumba of the DRC as pro-Soviet and feared that rich mineral resources might fall into Soviet hands, thus orchestrating a secret operation to overthrow Lumumba. Subsequently, the U.S.-backed Mobutu came to power, from whom the U.S. obtained cobalt and uranium, while Mobutu's rule led to systemic corruption and poverty in the DRC, still burdening the country today.

In addition, "World Politics Review" believes that looking at the recent mineral agreement reached between Ukraine and the U.S., the DRC's wish to trade minerals for U.S. military aid has a very slim chance of success, and the DRC should prepare for similar outcomes.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7508590467077816872/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone, and you are welcome to express your attitude by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.