The Democratic Republic of Congo has denied claims that it “sold off” its vast mineral wealth to the United States under a peace agreement granting Washington access to its reserves.
Speaking on the sidelines of the African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, Mining Minister Louis Watum rejected suggestions that Kinshasa had ceded ground in negotiations with Washington.
“The DRC has not sold off anything at all. The DRC has not sold anything at all,” Watum said.
He explained that the agreement provides a framework for discussions with U.S. companies on potential investment projects.
“Some may invest and others may not. And when they do, it will be in strict compliance with the mining code,” he added.
The agreement, signed in December, opens access to copper, cobalt, coltan and lithium to U.S. companies, alongside a peace accord aimed at ending the long-running conflict in eastern DRC.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the deal at the time, describing it as the beginning of a new era of harmony and cooperation that would bring peace and prosperity to the region.
In January, Vice Premier Daniel Mukoko Samba told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the DRC had submitted a list of strategic projects to Washington. The proposals are expected to be reviewed in the coming weeks by a joint steering committee.
Addressing U.S.-China rivalry in the Congolese mining sector, Watum said the government remains focused on domestic priorities, including job creation and expanding access to education.
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