THE Democratic Republic of Congo is establishing a dedicated armed security force to protect mine sites and supply chains, as the country deepens its minerals partnership with the US, said the Financial Times.
A statement issued on Monday by the DRC’s General Inspectorate of Mines said the “Mining Guard” will cost $100m to set up, comprise as many as 20,000 troops by 2028, and be backed by Washington and the United Arab Emirates, both of which have growing commercial interests in the country’s mining sector, the newspaper said.
However, the US Embassy in Kinshasa said it was not funding paramilitary groups to guard mines. The inspectorate subsequently said the plan formed part of a broader framework of co-operation and dialogue with international partners, including within the context of relations with the US and the UAE.
The DRC signed a comprehensive economic and security agreement with the US last year as Washington seeks to diversify critical minerals sourcing away from China. Progress has been slow, partly because of violent conflict in the country’s east, where mines have fallen under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, said the Financial Times.
Rafael Kabengele, inspector general of mines, said the new unit would eliminate practices contrary to good governance, transparency and mineral traceability. Recruits will undergo a six-month training programme and be tasked with securing sites across the DRC’s 22 mining provinces as well as protecting cargoes in transit. The force would largely replace an existing mining police unit, according to people familiar with the plans.
The DRC has attracted growing interest from mining companies and investors. A US-backed consortium recently agreed to acquire copper and cobalt miner Chemaf in Katanga province, while KoBold Metals, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has launched a lithium exploration programme in the country.
