Kinshasa, May 11th, 2026 (CPA). – The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department stated on Monday that his country will use “all means” at its disposal to ensure that Rwanda fulfills its commitments under the Washington Agreements, following an exchange with the Prime Minister in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. “The U.S. Department of the Treasury has recently imposed sanctions on several senior Rwandan military officials. We take compliance with the commitments made under the agreement very seriously, and we will use all means at our disposal to ensure that Rwanda fulfills its part of the commitments,” said Jeremy Wiggins, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in charge of Energy, Infrastructure and Investments. He recalled that the United States attaches particular importance to the implementation of the Washington Agreements, personally supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. official highlighted Washington’s strategic interest in the energy development of the DRC, particularly the Inga III hydropower project. “Energy is a major priority for both the United States and the DRC. I discussed with the Prime Minister the importance of Inga III and the potential it offers for the Congolese economy, its population, and various state sectors, as well as how to rapidly advance the project,” he said. For Washington, the DRC’s energy issues now go beyond the national framework and are directly linked to securing critical mineral supply chains, the Lobito Corridor, and regional industrial competitiveness. The Lobito Corridor, supported by the United States and several Western partners, is considered a strategic axis aimed at facilitating the export of critical minerals from the DRC and Zambia to international markets via the Atlantic Ocean, while boosting regional rail, energy, and logistics infrastructure.
Growing DRC–USA partnership welcomed
Jeremy Wiggins also welcomed the growing rapprochement between the United States and the DRC, noting that his visit reflects a new dynamic in bilateral relations. “I believe my visit reflects the strengthening closeness between the DRC and the United States,” he said, adding that Washington is committed to supporting the Congolese economy. He further highlighted several U.S. initiatives already underway in support of the DRC, particularly in development financing mechanisms, energy partnerships, and major infrastructure projects. The United States now considers Congolese electricity a “critical infrastructure” for regional industrialization and economic stability in Central and Southern Africa. This vision is part of a broader U.S. approach integrating security, governance of strategic flows, infrastructure bankability, and investment protection. Kinshasa and Washington thus reaffirm their commitment to strengthening a strategic partnership focused on energy, infrastructure, and economic transformation in the DRC, expected to play a key role in Africa’s industrial and geopolitical dynamics.