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The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and China have formalised a new agreement to expand cooperation within the African nation’s critical minerals sector.
Announced by the Congolese government on Thursday, the deal focuses on geological data sharing, investment protection, and the promotion of local processing for raw materials.
This partnership further solidifies Beijing’s dominant position in the DRC, where Chinese firms already lead the production of cobalt and copper—minerals essential for the global electric vehicle and green energy transition.
The agreement introduces a monitoring mechanism designed to ensure project transparency and legal compliance while also prioritising the MIFOR iron ore project in the country’s northeast.
This move coincides with a broader trade initiative granting the DRC duty-free access to Chinese markets starting May 1.
Kinshasa is using its position as a mineral powerhouse to get infrastructure support and economic stability from its biggest bilateral creditor by strengthening these ties.
Strategically, the DRC appears to be “hedging its bets” amid an intensifying resource competition between the United States and China.
While the Trump administration signed a strategic partnership with the DRC in December to boost Western investment and reduce Chinese dominance, Congolese officials have indicated they will remain open to multiple partners to maximise national benefit.
As global powers jockey for influence, the DRC is successfully utilising its vast reserves of lithium, coltan, and cobalt to negotiate both economic investment and security backing on the international stage.
