The United States, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed an unprecedented agreement in Washington that reshuffles the cards of the exploitation of strategic minerals in the Great Lakes region. Ce new tripartite framework, backed by the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF/CIER) and to two bilateral partnerships with Kinshasa and Kigali, linked to direct access to resources, institutional reforms and commitment American security.

The aim is to put an end to the informal circuits that have dominated for decades mining in eastern DRC and drying up the financing of armed groups. From now on, all access to mining areas will have to go through the State Congolese. A major change for cobalt, copper, tungsten and other critical minerals that feed American industrial chains, especially those of the energy transition.

“Our ambition goes beyond the search for peace: we We want to build sustainable prosperity based on cooperation long-term security and economic,” said the Secretary of State American Marco Rubio.

Unlike traditional investment treaties, the The system integrates a military component and strict governance requirements. Washington promises strengthened support for security reforms in the DRC and the Rwanda, while American businesses benefit from a climate more stable investment.

Private actors are already at work: a first cargo of tungsten concentrate, extracted from the Rwandan mine of Nyakabingo was recently sent to an American refinery. Others groups like KoBold Metals and Starlink are banking on the development of the corridor of Lobito, which is set to become a major export route to the Atlantic.