President Tshisekedi of the DRC has proposed allowing the US and Europe access to the country’s mineral resources in exchange for assistance in ending ongoing conflicts. He urged direct trade to prevent looting via Rwanda and noted the potential for an agreement to enhance stability. This offer comes amid US sanctions on Rwandan officials linked to rebel activity in the DRC.
In a significant diplomatic initiative, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has proposed to grant the United States and Europe access to the country’s extensive mineral resources. This proposition is contingent upon their intervention to resolve the ongoing conflict afflicting the DRC.
Presidential Spokesperson Tina Salama advocated for the United States to purchase essential minerals directly from Kinshasa instead of acquiring any smuggled resources funneled through Rwanda, highlighting that the DRC is the legitimate owner of these minerals.
During an interview with The New York Times, President Tshisekedi indicated openness to a minerals agreement that could foster significant security and stability in the DRC. Notably, he recalled that the Trump administration previously expressed interest in securing a direct supply of critical minerals from the DRC.
This offer follows recent sanctions imposed by the US on Rwandan military officer James Kabarebe, identified as a liaison for the M23 rebel group, which has been actively capturing valuable territories in eastern DRC, including the key city of Goma. Although the group has threatened to advance towards the capital Kinshasa, experts consider this progression unlikely due to the considerable distance.
Currently, China has greater access to DRC’s mineral resources compared to the US, while the European Union has engaged in negotiations with Rwanda, having provided approximately $935 million in exchange for various minerals. EU foreign ministers convened but were unable to agree on immediate sanctions against Rwanda, with discussions suggesting a reevaluation of their raw materials agreement with the nation.
Belgium, the former colonial ruler of the DRC, further engaged in a separate agreement as part of the EU’s broader strategy to secure essential mineral supplies. This agreement recognized Rwanda’s significant role in the global extraction of various minerals, alongside its potential in lithium and rare earth mining.
Multiple reports, including those from the United Nations, accuse Rwanda of exploiting the instability in the DRC to plunder its mineral resources, which include gold, copper, and cobalt—elements crucial for modern high-tech devices and electric vehicle batteries.
The M23 rebel group has reportedly taken control of several lucrative mining regions, with a UN report revealing that approximately 120 tonnes of coltan are smuggled into Rwanda each month, highlighting a concerning surge in the volume of minerals exported by Rwanda.
Despite these allegations, Rwanda maintains its innocence regarding the exploitation of Congolese minerals. The DRC, recognized globally as the leading cobalt producer, contributed 220,000 metric tons of cobalt last year, with a substantial percentage of the world’s tantalum extracted from DRC and neighboring Rwanda.
Congo’s substantial coltan reserves have been associated with severe environmental degradation and human rights violations, including the widespread use of child labor in hazardous mining conditions, raising serious ethical sourcing issues.
President Tshisekedi’s proposal to leverage mineral resources in exchange for peace highlights the urgent need for international intervention to stabilize the DRC. The situation underscores the complexities of mineral extraction, geopolitical tensions, and the ethical implications surrounding labor practices in the industry. The DRC remains a pivotal player in the global minerals market, particularly in cobalt and tantalum, prompting calls for direct engagement from Western powers to curb the ongoing conflict and promote sustainable mining practices.
Original Source: www.mining.com
