The United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are moving forward on a deal to attract billions of dollars in US investment in the Congolese mining sector. This was announced by Massad Boulos, former president Donald Trump's new senior Africa advisor, after meeting in Kinshasa with the Congolese president, Félix Tshisekedi.
"We are committed to deepening bilateral relations that benefit both the Congolese and American people. We want to stimulate private investment, especially in the mining sector," said Boulos, who also stressed the importance of security in ensuring economic development.
In addition to encouraging investment, Boulos discussed with Tshisekedi the security and humanitarian crisis in the east of the country, where the M23 rebel group is maintaining an armed offensive. Since the conflict intensified in January, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced and more than 8,500 deaths have been recorded, according to official and UN figures.
In March, it emerged that Tshisekedi proposed to the US to facilitate access to strategic minerals - such as coltan and gold - essential to the technology industry, in exchange for a formal security agreement to curb M23.
Boulos, who began an African tour in the DRC that includes Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, reaffirmed the US commitment to a "lasting peace that respects the territorial integrity of the DRC and promotes a stable regional economy".
Source: swissinfo.ch - EFE Agency 03/04/2025