Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Congo has announced the creation of a paramilitary guard to secure its mining operations, supported by $100 million in U.S. and Emirati investments, aiming to enhance security and investor confidence amid ongoing conflict in the east.
- The new force will initially deploy 2,500 to 3,000 personnel by December, with plans to expand to over 20,000 across all 22 mining provinces by 2028, taking over security roles from conventional military forces.
- The guard’s responsibilities include protecting mine sites, escorting mineral shipments, and safeguarding foreign investments, as Congo seeks to improve governance, transparency, and traceability in its mineral sector.
- Congo is a major global supplier of coltan and tantalum, critical for electronics and aerospace industries, with significant deposits in rebel-controlled eastern regions where insecurity and illicit trafficking persist.
- The initiative aligns with U.S. efforts to reduce Chinese dominance in critical mineral supply chains, following a minerals partnership signed last year that granted American firms increased access to Congo’s mining assets.
