In a bid to eliminate violent rebels, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi has proposed a minerals deal to U.S. President Donald Trump in exchange for a security agreement.
“Your election has ushered in a golden age for America,” Tshisekedi wrote in a February letter to Trump, as reported by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. “Our partnership would provide the U.S. with a strategic advantage by securing critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The DRC, home to an estimated $20 trillion worth of minerals—including gold, copper, and the world’s largest cobalt reserves—plays a crucial role in global supply chains. Cobalt, essential for defense and aerospace applications, is also a key component in electric vehicle and cellphone batteries.
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Tshisekedi is seeking a “formal security pact” with the U.S. to help Congo’s army defeat M23, a Rwandan-backed rebel group, in exchange for mineral resources, The Wall Street Journal reported. However, his letter did not specify details of the proposed security arrangement.
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“Congo is interested in partnering with the Trump administration to end the conflict and stop the flow of blood minerals via Rwanda,” a Tshisekedi spokeswoman told the outlet.
“It is in both our interests that American companies—like Apple and Tesla—source minerals directly from the DRC, unlocking our nation’s mineral wealth for the benefit of the world,” she added.
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The DRC and neighboring Rwanda have been entangled in decades of conflict, including the First Congo War (1996–1997), the Second Congo War (1998–2003), and the ongoing crisis that began in 2022. The latest violence revolves around control over mineral-rich territories and M23’s claims of protecting ethnic minorities from the Congolese government.
In January, the rebels seized Goma, North Kivu’s largest city, escalating clashes with the government. The conflict has also resulted in the deaths of 13 U.N. peacekeepers and foreign soldiers.
Speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Wednesday, Tshisekedi emphasized that his goal is to create jobs through mineral extraction while fostering a lasting U.S.-Congo partnership for peace and stability.
“We want to extract these minerals but also process them, as this would create many jobs,” he told Baier. “And we want a partnership that will bring lasting peace and stability to our nation.”
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When asked about China‘s significant presence in the DRC and dominating its cobalt mining industry, Tshisekedi dismissed concerns, suggesting that the U.S. has simply lost ground in Africa.
“Nature abhors a vacuum,” he said. “China isn’t expanding in Africa—America is retreating. The U.S. was more present in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and we would be very happy to see our American friends return.”
Tshisekedi is also in discussions with Erik Prince, founder of the private military firm formerly known as Blackwater and a Trump ally, regarding potential assistance for Congo’s government in the ongoing conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The White House has yet to comment on the proposed deal.
The offer comes after the Trump administration previously explored a minerals deal with Ukraine—rich in lithium and copper—as a way to offset aid costs amid Ukraine’s war with Russia. However, that deal stalled following a tense February Oval Office meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance.
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