The Democratic Republic of Congo is taking bold steps to secure its vast mineral wealth, launching a paramilitary mining guard backed by a $100 million budget tied to strategic partnerships with the United States and the UAE. The new unit, overseen by Congo’s General Inspectorate of Mines, will eventually deploy over 20,000 personnel across the country’s mining regions by 2028, with an initial contingent of 2,500 to 3,000 operational as early as December 2026. Tasked with escorting mineral shipments, securing mine sites, and curbing smuggling, the force is designed to boost investor confidence and improve government oversight. The move comes as Congo battles a Rwanda-backed rebellion in its mineral-rich east while Washington works to reduce China’s grip on critical mineral supply chains.
Reuters
