After the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unveiled plans to create a paramilitary force to safeguard mining operations, the United States has clarified that it is not currently financing the initiative.
Earlier in the week, the country’s General Inspectorate of Mines issued a statement outlining plans to set up an armed unit dedicated to protecting key mining areas nationwide.
The project, reportedly backed by a proposed $100 million budget, was presented as part of wider strategic cooperation involving both the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the announcement, the force would be responsible for securing mining output, tracking mineral transport, and replacing “defense forces currently deployed in mining zones.”
The statement also suggested that the initiative had support from Congo’s emerging international partners, including the United States and the UAE.
However, Washington has since rejected any direct involvement in the plan, as reported by Reuters.
“The U.S. government is not currently funding any units to patrol or guard mines in the Congo,” the U.S. embassy said, adding that it remains focused on supporting economic growth and stability through its strategic partnership with the country.
Initial position from Congo authorities
At the start of the week, Congo’s mining regulator indicated that the proposed security structure is being developed with international cooperation but would not be directly financed by any single foreign government.
Although mining sites are officially protected by police units, reports indicate that military personnel and members of the presidential guard are also present at various locations, sometimes outside the scope of the country’s mining regulations.
The General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM) told Bloomberg that the planned force is intended to eventually take over security duties currently handled by police in mining zones.
It also stated that deployment will focus heavily on the Katanga region, a mineral-rich area known for large deposits of copper, cobalt, zinc, lithium, gold, tin, and tantalum.
The initiative highlights increasing international interest in Congo’s vast mineral resources, especially as global demand for critical metals continues to rise.
The development forms part of a broader pattern of growing cooperation between Congo, the United States, and the UAE.
Earlier in February, the DRC announced plans to supply copper to Saudi Arabia and the UAE through a US-supported arrangement involving Mercuria Energy Group Ltd.
That agreement was widely viewed as part of Washington’s broader effort to reduce China’s influence in the global critical minerals supply chain.