President Felix Tshisekedi has declared that the Democratic Republic of Congo will not “auction” its vast mineral resources, even as he welcomed U.S. mediation in a fragile peace deal with Rwanda aimed at ending conflict in the country’s troubled east.
The U.S.-brokered accord was intended to halt hostilities in eastern Congo and curb Rwanda’s alleged support for the M23 rebel movement. Yet Tshisekedi said the deal has not eased the violence that continues to destabilize the mineral-rich region.
In June, American mediators brought Congo and Rwanda to the table, seeking an agreement to end the fighting that has claimed thousands of lives this year. The Trump administration has been vocal about its determination to restore peace while positioning the region as a secure destination for Western investment in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium. A deadline for implementing parts of the deal falls this month.
Although appreciative of Washington’s role, Tshisekedi stressed Congo’s sovereignty over its natural wealth. “Despite our support for U.S. mediation, it does not mean that we will auction our mineral resources,” he told reporters in New York.
The president added that Congo intends to use new partnerships to strengthen industries and build much-needed infrastructure. “We will, as part of this partnership, be working in the development of the mining sectors, developing the value chain, developing infrastructure with a particular emphasis on energy,” he said.
Strategic Shift In Congo’s Global Partnerships
Tshisekedi revealed that his government has finalized a strategic partnership with China and is negotiating a similar arrangement with the United States. “Today, we are negotiating a similar partnership with the USA. And we hope that we will complete it,” he noted, without providing extensive details.
The negotiations with Beijing center on revising a landmark $6 billion “infrastructure-for-minerals” deal signed in 2007. Under that agreement, Chinese state-owned giants Sinohydro and China Railway Group constructed roads and hospitals in return for significant mining stakes, including in the Sicomines joint venture and the Tenke Fungurume Mine.
Congo now seeks to increase its shareholding in these ventures from 32% to 70% as it aims to assert greater control over resources crucial to the global clean energy transition. The talks also address longstanding grievances about financial losses, generous tax exemptions granted to Chinese companies, and exposure to volatile copper prices.
Meanwhile, Kinshasa is exploring new partnerships with Washington as it tries to balance Chinese influence and leverage its mineral wealth for both economic growth and regional security.
For Congolese officials, however, the true test of progress rests on whether Rwanda halts its alleged backing of M23. Kinshasa has repeatedly accused Kigali of enabling atrocities in eastern Congo, charges Rwanda has consistently rejected.
“(Rwanda) pretended to withdraw their troops, but actually, they are increasing their support to M23,” Tshisekedi said.
Ceasefire Hopes And Prisoner Exchange Talks
Diplomatic efforts earlier this year offered a glimpse of hope. In March, Qatar brokered a surprise meeting between Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The two leaders called for a ceasefire, paving the way for direct dialogue between Kinshasa and M23.
But momentum quickly faded. Both parties missed an August 18 deadline to finalize a peace agreement. M23 insists that any deal must include the release of prisoners, a demand Congo has resisted. A Congolese official told Reuters that no prisoners would be freed until an accord is formally signed.
Even so, Tshisekedi signaled cautious optimism about progress on this front. “As a matter of fact, we are waiting for the Red Cross to give us a go ahead to proceed with the exchange of prisoners,” he said.
The months ahead will be critical, with Congo caught between regional insecurity, high-stakes mineral negotiations, and the international community’s push for stability. Whether U.S. diplomacy, Chinese investments, or regional mediation will bring lasting peace remains uncertain.
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