The United States has secured access to major tantalum reserves in the Democratic Republic of Congo, positioning itself at the center of one of the world’s most strategic mineral regions.
The move forms part of a broader strategy to stabilize the conflict-affected country while strengthening Western control over critical mineral supply chains.
At the heart of the agreement is the Manono region in southeastern Congo, home to one of the largest known tantalum deposits globally.
The partnership also places focus on the Rubaya mining area in North Kivu, a key source of coltan — the ore from which tantalum is derived.
Tantalum is an essential component in smartphones, semiconductors, electric vehicles, and military electronics, making it a highly valuable resource in the global technology and defense industries.
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According to reports by Reuters, Congolese and U.S. officials confirmed that Rubaya was included in discussions during a February 5 meeting in Washington aimed at advancing a strategic minerals partnership initially agreed upon in December.
The initiative reflects Washington’s wider push to expand mineral engagement in Congo, including supporting mining investment and building supply chains that reduce Western dependence on China, the dominant global processor of critical minerals.
Beyond commercial interests, the mineral deal is closely tied to U.S. diplomatic efforts to ease long-standing tensions between DR Congo and neighboring Rwanda.
The rivalry between the two countries has fueled instability in eastern Congo’s mineral-rich territories for decades.
U.S. officials have encouraged both governments to pursue peace negotiations alongside economic cooperation, arguing that formalizing and modernizing mineral extraction could help undercut illegal trade networks that finance armed groups.
By attracting structured Western investment, Washington hopes to reduce the influence of smuggling operations that have historically thrived in the region.
Rubaya remains particularly sensitive. The area reportedly accounts for about 15% of global coltan output and holds several thousand metric tons of the mineral, with tantalum concentrations estimated between 20% and 40%.
However, the mine and surrounding hills are under the control of AFC/M23 rebels, whose activities have contributed to organized smuggling routes into Rwanda, according to previous United Nations reports.
The U.N. has estimated that the group generates at least $800,000 monthly from taxes linked to Rubaya’s coltan trade.
For the United States, gaining access to Congo’s mineral wealth strengthens supply chains critical to defense, electronics, and clean energy industries while countering China’s strong foothold in Africa’s mining sector.
The strategy reflects a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy, where economic partnerships are increasingly intertwined with geopolitical positioning and conflict resolution.
Congo, which holds the world’s largest reserves of cobalt alongside significant deposits of tantalum, lithium, and copper, remains central to the global energy transition.
For Kinshasa, deeper engagement with Washington offers an opportunity to attract investment, upgrade mining infrastructure, and reduce conflict driven by informal mineral extraction.
As demand for critical minerals accelerates worldwide, the evolving U.S.–Congo partnership has the potential to reshape not only global technology supply chains but also the geopolitical landscape of Africa’s resource-rich heartland.
