Opposition grows in Congo over US mineral deal | EUROtoday

Opposition to a deal that will permit U.S. corporations entry to essential minerals in Congo is rising after Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi returned from the U.S. minerals summit final week — with praises from U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. lawmakers.

Tshisekedi has supplied U.S. corporations entry to japanese Congo’s wealthy minerals — largely untapped and estimated to be price $24 trillion – as a bargaining chip for U.S. help to assist battle off rebels and construct essential infrastructure within the area the place Rwanda-backed rebels seized main cities final 12 months.

It comes because the Trump administration seeks to create a minerals buying and selling bloc with its allies, partly to defend in opposition to China’s stranglehold on essential components wanted for every thing from fighter jets to smartphones. China accounts for practically 70% of the world’s uncommon earth mining and controls roughly 90% of world uncommon earths processing. It can also be essentially the most lively participant in Congo’s minerals sector.

Congo went looking for help and funding

On the sidelines of the Feb. 4 Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington D.C., Tshisekedi led a Congolese delegation on strategic conferences with senior Trump administration officers and members of the Congress, largely constructing on the strategic partnership settlement that each international locations signed in December.

“We are open for business and we are serious about doing business the right way,” Tshisekedi advised members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce throughout a gathering final week.

Discussions with Congolese officers centered on reviewing an inventory of strategic belongings submitted by Congo which is able to assist decide funding alternatives for American corporations, the U.S. State Department mentioned final week.

US, Chinese competitors ‘will intensify’ on Congolese soil

The strategic partnership has been framed as securing provide chains for strategic minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium and coltan for the U.S. whereas Congo in return receives U.S. help for improvement of key infrastructure.

In Congo, nevertheless, analysts and residents say there are nonetheless no indicators that U.S. involvement within the nation’s minerals sector will assist meet its most vital want: everlasting peace and stability notably within the east the place Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized territories a 12 months in the past.

The rebels additionally management huge territories wealthy in minerals, together with the Rubaya coltan mine which produces round 15% of the world’s coltan and the place at the very least 200 miners died just lately after part of it collapsed.

American corporations, in the meantime, have lengthy averted Congo due partly to excessive ranges of insecurity and corruption, a void lengthy stuffed by Chinese corporations.

“The battle between China and the United States for access to and control of strategic minerals will intensify concretely on Congolese soil,” mentioned Josaphat Musamba, doctoral researcher finding out battle and improvement at Belgium’s Ghent University.

Opposition might hamper the implementation

In the capital of Kinshasa, opposition is rising in opposition to the mineral partnerships each from public figures and the civil society leaders, a few of whom have accused the Congolese authorities of underselling the nation’s huge mineral wealth.

A gaggle of legal professionals and human rights activists in Congo has filed a lawsuit arguing that the mineral partnership threatens Congo’s sovereignty.

“We are assuming our responsibility as Congolese citizens to protect the sovereignty of our country and preserve our heritage for future generations,” mentioned Jean-Marie Kalonji, one of many legal professionals.

Within the opposition, there may be additionally the concern that the deal will primarily profit Tshisekedi. Moïse Katumbi, the primary opposition chief, has raised considerations about the way it could possibly be carried out given the safety scenario within the mineral-rich east, and has known as for a nationwide dialogue as a greater method to traders.

Archbishop Fulgence Muteba, who’s president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), likened the strategic partnership to “selling off the minerals of an entire nation to save a regime or a political system.”

“This clearly amounts to sacrificing the development of the population and confiscating the happiness of future generations,” the Catholic bishop mentioned in December.

In the rebel-controlled territories, residents say they do not see any main dedication by the U.S. to restoring peace and stability.

“We think this agreement will generate more conflict instead of actually providing solutions because the actors are not sincere,” mentioned Christopher Muyisa, a youth activist.

For Tshisekedi and his authorities, “the fast achieve is primarily political: strategic recognition from Washington,” mentioned Yvon Muya, a analysis affiliate at Canada’s University of Ottawa.

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