US Embassy says that US does not fund $100 million mineguard in Congo

The United States announced?on? Tuesday that it?is?not funding any security units?tasked?with policing and guarding mines?in Democratic Republic of Congo?after Kinshasa announced its plans to launch paramilitary forces to secure mining sites?

In a Monday statement, the Congo's General Inspection of Mines (IGM), said that the paramilitary?guard will be funded with a budget of $100 million and created as part of strategic partnerships between the U.S.?and the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S. Embassy said Washington was committed to advancing the economic?growth in Congo and stabilization through the strategic partnership but that it did not fund mine security units.

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The Congo's mining regulator said that the plans for the mining watch, which were developed in collaboration with many international partners, will not be funded directly by any one country.

In a statement, it stated that "discussions are currently underway to structure a system that is consistent with the national priorities."

Security support and investment are part of the minerals partnership that was signed between the U.S. and Congo to increase access to its vast copper, cobalt and lithium reserves.

The new unit is set to be deployed across all mining regions in the country and will have more than 20,000 personnel at its disposal by 2028.

Congo, world's second largest copper producer and top supplier of?cobalt, said that it was seeking to increase security around strategic minerals as part of a wider effort to attract investment? and reduce armed groups activity in mining regions.

Last month, the government signed a separate agreement with China to strengthen investments in light of the increasing geopolitical competition over its minerals. (Reporting and writing by Ange Kasongo, Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Editing by Tomaszjanowski)

(source: Reuters)