The United States is seeking to secure supplies of minerals essential for the manufacture of electronic components in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), hoping to compete with China's near monopoly on this strategic sector.

The American strategy, which began several years ago, has been accelerating since Donald Trump's return to the White House in November.

- Eldorado at risk -

Ranked among the 15 least developed countries in the world, the DRC has one of the richest lands on the planet, notably in copper, cobalt, coltan and lithium.

Materials essential for the manufacture of components for weapons, mobile phones and electric cars.

In 2024, the DRC supplied 76% of the world's cobalt production, according to the American Institute of Geological Survey (USGS).

Shaken by the resurgence of the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group in eastern DRC, the government of DRC President Félix Tshisekedi is seeking an agreement from Washington that would guarantee the United States a stable and direct supply chain for defense and technology, in exchange for increased security cooperation.

But the Congolese mining sector is plagued by chronic smuggling, criminal networks and corruption which deter private investors.

- Bypassing conflicts in the east -

The M23 has seized numerous mining sites in eastern DRC during its offensives since 2021.

For now, experts say Washington's focus is primarily on the southeast of the country, which has been spared from current conflicts and is rich in copper and cobalt.

For several years, the United States has been promoting the establishment of the "Lobito Corridor," one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects on the continent, which is intended to allow the transport of minerals from the southeastern provinces of the DRC to an Angolan port on the Atlantic Ocean.

- China, well established -

Chinese companies exploit the majority of deposits in the DRC, often recovered from Western companies discouraged by conflicts or the business climate.

"If the Americans want to enter this sector today and start making profits immediately, it will involve wresting mining rights from certain companies," says Christian Géraud Neema, an expert with the Africa-China Project.

"If they want to start from scratch, they will have to apply for research permits and start exploring, which can take a minimum of 8 to 9 years before obtaining results," he adds.

- Mapping -

The American mining group Kobold Metals, an American start-up using artificial intelligence to discover mineral deposits, notably lithium, signed an agreement in principle with Kinshasa in July for the exploration of "1,700 mining squares" (cadastral measurement unit representing approximately 85 ha, editor's note).

Funded in particular by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, the group has also obtained approval from the DRC authorities to exploit its valuable mining database.

"All the mines we know about come from research carried out 80 or 100 years ago," and "less than 20% of the territory has undergone in-depth studies," explains Jean-Jacques Kayembe, coordinator of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the DRC.

- Permit to obtain -

In July, 600 mining titles were returned to the public domain following a major operation to clean up the cadastral file.

Several sources and security officials are talking about government pressure to respond to American demands.

The DRC "is not selling out," replied Crispin Mbindule, chairman of the board of directors of the DRC's mining registry. According to him, the Americans "followed all procedures and paid all fees."

Beyond the discovery of new deposits, the creation of joint ventures with mining companies in which the Congolese state is a shareholder is one of the solutions to meet American interests, according to expert Jean-Jacques Kayembe.

- The Shadow of Dan Gertler -

The controversial Israeli businessman Dan Gertler, targeted by US sanctions for acquiring mining concessions in the DRC under opaque conditions, has retained his influence and networks in the country's mining sector.

"He still receives royalties from three of the country's largest mining projects," says Jean Claude Mputu of the NGO Congo Is Not for Sale (CNPAV).

In March 2021, the United States reinstated sanctions against Mr. Gertler, which had been imposed by the US State Department in December 2017 but eased just before Donald Trump left the White House.

"It is impossible for a person with this expertise not to be involved" in the current negotiations, a European diplomat said. AFP was unable to contact Mr. Gertler for a comment.