Key points
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Congo and Rwanda draft economic framework with US support.
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The deal targets transparency and reforms in mining.
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Security concerns threaten progress on the agreement.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are preparing a draft agreement that outlines how they will work with the United States and other partners to reform their mineral sectors.
The 17-page framework, seen by Reuters, aims to improve transparency, reduce illicit mining trade, and attract new private investment. It follows a peace deal signed in Washington in June under U.S. mediation.
Sources say the draft is being reviewed by governments, banks, donor agencies, and private sector actors. Officials from Congo, Rwanda, and the U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
The plan is expected to be finalised in October before being signed by the presidents of both countries.
Transparency and reforms at the core
Under the draft, Congo and Rwanda would pledge to adopt new regulatory reforms with the support of the U.S. and international partners.
These reforms would be designed to lower investment risks, strengthen oversight, and ensure mining profits do not fund armed groups.
The framework also calls for third-party inspections of mine sites, cross-border special economic zones, and annual summits on regional economic integration.
Both sides committed to applying Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidance on mineral supply chains.
The agreement builds on an August outline that highlighted cooperation in energy, infrastructure, mining, health, and environmental protection.
Security challenges cloud progress
Despite progress on the economic framework, major security concerns remain. A Western diplomat told Reuters that Rwanda has yet to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo, while Congo’s military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have not begun.
At the same time, peace talks between Kinshasa and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have stalled. Earlier this year, M23 forces captured key cities and mining areas in eastern Congo, intensifying the conflict.
“Without progress on security, it will be difficult for either side or their partners to fully commit to economic cooperation,” the diplomat said.
A senior Congolese official echoed this concern, saying, “Kinshasa cannot consider economic cooperation with Rwanda as long as its army occupies part of our territory.”
Minerals at the heart of conflict
Eastern Congo holds some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt, tantalum, lithium, and gold. The minerals are vital for global electronics and green energy industries but have long fueled conflict in the region.
Both Congo and Rwanda agreed in the draft that each state has full sovereignty over its natural resources. They also pledged to strengthen domestic mineral processing, reduce dependence on raw exports, and ensure mining does not fund armed groups.
Analysts say if the framework is implemented, it could transform the region’s mining sector into a stable, transparent industry. But until security improves, questions remain over whether the peace and economic reforms can hold.
