Congo secures mining sites with $100 million US-backed guard

The mines inspectorate of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Monday that it had set up a paramilitary mining guard to secure the sites and supply chains of minerals. This is as the top cobalt-producing country in the world tries curbing smuggling, insecurity and boosting investor confidence.

The General Inspectorate for Mines (IGM), in a press release, said that the $100 million budget will be used to fund the programme under strategic partnerships between the United States and?United Arab Emirates. The Congo is the second largest copper producer in the world, with significant reserves of gold, lithium and coltan. It's currently fighting a Rwandan-backed rebellion that has caused thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displacements. Kinshasa signed a mineral partnership with the United States last year. Washington is trying to reduce China's dominance in critical minerals.

IGM said the new unit would be gradually deployed throughout Congo's mining areas and it is expected that more than 20,000 people will be on board by the end 2028.

After six months of training and recruitment in collaboration with the military, a first contingent of between 2,500 and 3,000 will be operational by December 2026.

Rafael Kabengele is the country's inspector-general of mines. He said, "The President of the Republic wants to clean up the mining sector by eliminating practices that are incompatible with good governance, transparency, and traceability of minerals." Virtus, a partner in the Congo-U.S. mineral partnership, acquired copper-cobalt mining company Chemaf. Other Western firms have expressed interest in mining properties, including those in rebel-held regions where insecurity has disrupted previous operations.

The mining guard is expected to take over the security duties that are currently performed by the defence forces. The statement stated that the mining guard's mandate would include safeguarding investment, securing mine sites, escorting minerals from extraction areas to processing facilities, and border posts.

Officials said that the initiative would improve state oversight and strengthen investor confidence. (Reporting and editing by Kirby Donovan; Ange Kasongo)

(source: Reuters)