DRC President Tshisekedi visited Israel to deepen diplomatic and economic cooperation with Herzog and Netanyahu, focusing on defense, security, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and technology partnerships amid shifting African geopolitical dynamics.
Democratic Republic of Congo's President Tshisekedi chairs a UN Security Council debate on natural resource governance this week, addressing how Rwanda allegedly smuggles one billion dollars annually in DRC minerals, highlighting resources fueling conflict rather than prosperity.
The DRC leveraged its UN Security Council presidency to advocate for stronger international governance of critical minerals, arguing existing frameworks inadequately prevent armed groups from exploiting resource extraction and fueling conflict in mineral-rich regions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo seized unused cobalt export quotas by June 30, 2026, transferring them to a national strategic reserve under new ARECOMS mandates, intensifying state control over the sector that produces 75-80 percent of global cobalt supply.
Copper futures rose above $6.29 per pound near record highs, driven by AI and clean energy demand expectations, while supply constraints from sulfuric acid disruptions and Chilean production declines intensify market concerns about long-term availability.
The Trump administration facilitated a minerals partnership between Congo and Rwanda to secure cobalt for global supply chains, prompting Congo to establish a $100 million paramilitary mining unit by 2028, raising concerns about sovereignty and whether it protects Congolese communities or foreign commercial interests.
The DRC's General Inspectorate of Mines plans a $100 million US-UAE-funded paramilitary unit with 3,000 personnel by December 2026 to secure mining sites, raising sovereignty concerns as critics argue external funding prioritizes foreign interests over African mineral resource control.
U.S.-based Virtus Minerals, backed by the Trump administration, neared acquisition of major DRC copper and cobalt mines from Dubai firm Chemaf, potentially adding 70,000 tons annual copper capacity and securing critical minerals from Chinese competitors.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed received DR Congo's President Tshisekedi to strengthen economic partnerships and discuss regional security, with Tshisekedi condemning Iranian aggression and supporting UAE's defensive measures.
President Tshisekedi demands urgent bureaucratic reforms as the Democratic Republic of Congo absorbs only 24.3 percent of its 10.7 billion dollar external financing portfolio, hindering critical infrastructure projects and economic growth across the nation.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's foreign minister stated that increased American involvement in the country's critical minerals industry complements rather than competes with China, emphasizing Congo needs multiple partners to develop its vast natural wealth and transform it into prosperity for its citizens.
The Democratic Republic of Congo partnered with the World Bank's International Finance Corporation to establish the Kinshasa Stock Exchange, a transformative financial reform aimed at mobilizing domestic capital, diversifying the economy beyond mineral extraction, and strengthening U.S.-Africa economic relations through institutional investor engagement.
The United States and European Commission financed the Lobito Corridor, a 1,300-kilometer railway connecting Angola's port to DRC and Zambian copper regions, reducing mineral transit times from weeks to days while advancing US competition with China over critical minerals.
Rwanda and Uganda have destabilized the Democratic Republic of Congo for decades, killing over 6 million people while illegally extracting nearly $1 billion annually in minerals, operating as Western proxies to maintain resource access in Central Africa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo plans to export 500,000 metric tons of copper to the US through state-owned Gécamines, a fivefold increase, amid US-China competition for critical minerals, though activists warn of corruption risks and environmental concerns.
DRC President Tshisekedi ordered a 30-day audit of mining revenues and state assets to combat corruption in the sector, implementing interconnected tracking systems across customs, ports, and banks to expose unpaid revenues and strengthen governance of the nation's cobalt, copper, and lithium resources.
The US strikes a new minerals deal with the DR Congo to counter China's dominance in metals and mining on the continent.
President Félix Tshisekedi visits Tanzania to deepen trade and security ties.
The Democratic Republic of Congo praises US ties amid a critical minerals race with China.
The United Arab Emirates is likely providing military assistance to DRC President Tshisekedi to protect expanding financial interests in mining and logistics, while the United States imposed sanctions on Sudanese armed groups with uncertain peacemaking effectiveness.
Fonteh Akum became director of Carnegie Africa Program in May 2026, leading scholars who provided expertise on U.S.-Africa relations, governance, technology, and trade through media appearances, congressional briefings, and policy analysis on regional security and digital infrastructure priorities.
Jihadist fighters killed over 70 people in Mali while French President Macron toured East Africa to rebuild France's influence, as armed groups escalated violence across the continent amid regional instability and constitutional concerns.
Trump's administration seeks influence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for its mineral wealth.
U.S.-based Virtus Minerals acquired Congolese mining company Chemaf, gaining control of cobalt and copper deposits capable of producing five percent of global cobalt supply, marking the first major deal under the December 2025 U.S.-DRC critical minerals partnership amid concerns over environmental and labor standards.
The US convened a critical minerals ministerial meeting to reduce dependence on China for mining and processing of vital minerals.