DR Congo Minerals and America’s Power Play

DR Congo minerals deal with the United States could reshape Africa’s future, but only if we understand what is really at stake. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is offering cobalt, lithium, copper, and manganese, essential for electric vehicles, clean energy, and modern warfare, in exchange for security and investment. This deal places Congo at the center of a US–China power struggle where global supply chains outweigh development promises. History shows that when minerals leave without local value creation, ordinary people benefit little. At the same time, West Africa signals a shift in regional politics. Togo expelled former Burkinabè leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba for allegedly plotting against President Ibrahim Traoré, highlighting Traoré’s growing influence and a new approach to legitimacy and control in the Sahel. These developments raise a key question: who truly benefits when security, resources, and power collide?