The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced on Monday the creation of a paramilitary guard tasked with ensuring the security of its vast mining operations, supported by American and Emirati investments, as Washington tries to secure access to strategic minerals in the context of a fragile peace process in the troubled east of the country.
The General Inspectorate of Mines of this Central African country said in a statement that this new unit would be deployed gradually, with an initial staff of 2,500 to 3,000 people expected to be operational by December, after six months of training in collaboration with the army.
The paramilitary force is expected to have more than 20,000 members spread across the 22 mining provinces of the DRC by the end of 2028, with the aim of boosting investor confidence and consolidating state control over mining production .
The statement said that the $100 million program is funded through partnerships with the United States and the United Arab Emirates .
The DRC is a major supplier of coltan , a metallic ore containing tantalum, a rare metal that is a key component in the production of smartphones, computers and aircraft engines.
Mineral trafficking
This vast country has long faced illicit mineral trafficking and chronic insecurity, particularly in its eastern provinces, where fighting between government forces and Rwandan- backed rebels has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The Congolese president intends to “clean up the entire mining sector by eliminating practices contrary to good governance, transparency and traceability of minerals” , said the inspector general of mines, Rafael Kabengele, in a statement.
The paramilitary guard will take over the security missions currently carried out by conventional military forces . Its mandate includes securing mining sites, escorting ore convoys to processing facilities and border posts, as well as protecting foreign investments.
Washington is trying to reduce China 's dominance over critical mineral supply chains. The DRC and the United States signed a mining partnership last year under which the American company Virtus Minerals acquired the copper and cobalt mining company Chemaf. Other Western companies have expressed interest, particularly in assets located in rebel-held territories.
According to the US Geological Survey, the DRC produced about 40% of the world's coltan in 2023. More than 15% of the world's tantalum supply comes from the Rubaya mines in the east of the country, which are controlled by rebels.
Peace agreement
Eastern DRC has been plagued by recurring crises for decades, with dozens of active armed groups.
Last year, the Congolese and Rwandan governments signed a US-brokered peace agreement , which also opened access to strategic minerals for the US government and US companies.
Negotiations are continuing between the M23 rebels and the DRC. However, fighting continues on several fronts in the east of the country.
