Connecting the Dots: DRC Mineral Geopolitics

Rwandan-backed M23 soldiers in the recently-captured Congolese city of Bukavu on March 1. Photo by Glody MURHABAZI / AFP

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reportedly lobbying the U.S. for greater backing against incursions by the Rwandan-backed M23 militia in return for access to critical minerals. Recent press reports cited a classified letter by Aaron Poynton, an executive appointed by the DRC government to boost relations with the United States to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It reportedly calls for a meeting with President Trump and the U.S. to arm and train the DRC army. It offers U.S. companies access to mineral concessions and a deep water port.

Meanwhile, Shukhrat Ibragimov, the new CEO of Eurasia Resources Group (a Kazakh mining giant deeply invested in the DRC’s strategic minerals sector,) recently said it is actively courting Chinese investment to expand its African and Asian operations.

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by CGSP Staff

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