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DRC Wants to Renegotiate Chinese Mining Deals. It Won’t Be Easy.

by Eric Olander

DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi last month traveled to the country’s mining heartland in Upper Katanga to personally tell everyone that he’s had enough of business as usual and that he plans to renegotiate unfair foreign mining contracts. While he didn’t call out the Chinese by name, everyone knew that’s precisely who was referring to given that 30 out of the 40 foreign mining companies operating in mineral-rich province are Chinese-affiliated.

But it’s not going to be easy for the President to follow through on that promise. After all, he doesn’t have a lot of leverage against the Chinese given there isn’t a lot of international competition to take their place if should they leave. He will also need their support for his upcoming re-election campaign in 2023.

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