DRC-USA: first step forward in cooperation between Kinshasa and Washington

Kinshasa, February 4^th, 2026 (CPA) – A first step forward in cooperation between Kinshasa and Washington was announced on Tuesday when mining group Glencore signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (Orion CMC), supported by the United States and Clencore, for the sale of a 40% stake in the assets of the former company operating in the DRC, according to a press release consulted by the CPA on Wednesday. ‘A first step forward was announced on Tuesday with the signing by mining group Glencore of a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the US-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium,’ the briefing note said. ‘The agreement covers the sale of a 40% stake in Clencore’s assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo,’ the source added. The signing took place during a summit on critical minerals, against a backdrop of increased competition with China for access to strategic resources. ‘The US administration is meeting in Washington on Wednesday, where some 40 foreign delegations are participating in the summit on critical minerals, against a backdrop of increased competition with China for access to strategic resources,’ the source said. On this occasion, a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), led by President Félix Tshisekedi, is participating in the meeting organised by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Representatives from Guinea and Kenya are also expected to attend. This summit comes two months after the signing of the Washington agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation between the United States and mineral-producing countries. The DRC, the world’s leading producer of cobalt and a key player in coltan and lithium, is at the center of the discussions. However, Washington is seeking to secure supplies for the battery, defense and energy transition sectors. In addition, the Chemaf copper-cobalt mine in Mutoshi, in the province of Haut-Katanga in eastern DRC, is moving towards a takeover by an American company, after the abandonment of an initial project involving Chinese investors. To this end, Kinshasa hopes that these discussions will lead to concrete investments and a rebalancing of its mining partnerships.