The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a fresh mining cooperation agreement with China, reinforcing Beijing’s influence in its critical minerals sector even as the United States works to ease tensions between Congo and Rwanda and expand Western access to resources, according to Reuters .
The deal focuses on geological data sharing, investment protection, and promoting local processing of raw materials, alongside a compliance framework to ensure transparency and adherence to Congolese laws, as reported by Business Insider Africa.
The move comes amid growing geopolitical competition, with Washington recently pursuing a strategic minerals partnership with Congo tied partly to efforts to stabilise the conflict in eastern regions, where security concerns have complicated investment flows.
Analysts say Kinshasa is deliberately balancing relationships between global powers, leveraging its vast reserves of cobalt, copper, and lithium to maximise economic gains rather than aligning exclusively with either the U.S. or China.
