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In a March 19, 2025, interview with Fox News, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi confirmed his government’s willingness to negotiate a security partnership with the United States in exchange for access to critical minerals.
"We are looking for partnerships and have established some with several countries. We believe that the United States, given its role and influence in the world, is an important partner for us. We are happy to see that with the Trump administration, things are moving forward at a faster pace on both sides," Tshisekedi told the network, which is reportedly close to President Trump.
The Congolese leader did not talk about potential arms shipments or the deployment of U.S. military personnel in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, some lobbyists representing Senator Pierre Kanda Kalambayi—Chairman of the Senate's Defense, Security and Border Protection Committee—previously addressed this request to the U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio.
President Tshisekedi highlighted the opportunity for sustainable U.S. investment in critical mineral extraction and processing, which he said could create jobs and foster long-term stability.
Asked about how he would guarantee the safety of American investors in his country, Tshisekedi mentioned plans to strengthen the Congolese army’s defense capabilities and expressed hope that U.S.-imposed sanctions and pressure on armed groups could help stabilize conflict zones.
Trump Sends Special Envoy to Kinshasa
A few days before President Tshisikedi’s appearance on Fox, the U.S. had sent a Special Envoy, Ronny Jackson, to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Jackson, a member of Congress, met with Tshisekedi on March 16.
Jackson came amid escalating tensions in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, have seized control of key cities including Goma and Bukavu.
“The DRC’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected by all. We are going to work so that all obstacles on the path to peace are removed, so that peace returns to the DRC ", Jackson said during the meeting, according to DRC Presidency. "Our goal is to ensure that American companies can come, invest, and work in the DRC. And to do that, we need to make sure there's a peacefulenvironment," he added, according to the same source.
Several actors are getting involved in the talks to end the conflict in eastern DRC. Qatar, one of them, facilitated a meeting between Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame of Rwanda on March 17.
The recent developments unfold against a backdrop of intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, with Beijing controlling nearly 80% of DRC's mines. Washington views China as an economic and geostrategic competitor in the mineral-rich African nation.
Amidst the world’s technological development and geopolitical tensions, the DRC's critical mineral resources, valued at an estimated $24 trillion by the World Bank, have attracted global attention. The country has signed preliminary agreements with various entities, including the European Union, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, potentially complicating U.S. interests in the region.
After visiting the DRC, Ronny Jackson also went to the neighboring Congo-Brazzaville where he met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso. According to the Chinese official press, Nguesso asked Jackson to mediate in the US-China trade rivalry.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will soon asphalt some of its roads with recycled plastic waste. On March 13, 2025, the Congolese government sealed the related deal, a memorandum of understanding (MoU), with India's Thiagarajar College of Engineering. to pave roads using recycled plastic waste, a technique that has been successfully implemented in India for the past decade.
"The aim is to ensure an effective transfer of skills and equip the country with local expertise in smart, sustainable roads," the minister said.
According to Ève Bazaiba Masudi, the DRC’s Minister of State for the Environment and Sustainable Development, the project aligns with the DRC's five-year action program (2024-2028). Masudi added that the initiative will improve roads and tackle environmental issues caused by plastic pollution.
The DRC’s partner on the project, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, is located in Madurai, India. The college promotes research and innovation and develops sustainable technological solutions in collaboration with academic and industrial partners.
Under the agreement, the DRC will receive a license to operate and market this flexible pavement technology. Key national agencies, including the Office des Routes, the Office des Voiries et Drainage, and the Institut National du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics, will be involved in testing and implementing the project.
This initiative comes at a critical time for the DRC, particularly for Kinshasa, where plastic waste management has long been a significant challenge. Previous efforts, including a 2015 European Union-supported project that established a plastic waste treatment plant and collection stations, have had limited success. In 2022, the American company Clean-Seas announced a $30 million investment in a thermal power plant in Kinshasa to convert plastic waste into energy products and electricity.
Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
On March 17, 2025, in Berlin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took a significant step toward expanding its energy infrastructure by signing a commercial contract with Germany’s Gauff Engineering. The agreement, valued at €150 million (approximately $165.5 million), covers the construction of 230 photovoltaic and mini-hydropower plants over the next four years, according to the ANSER, the Congolese agency for electrification in rural peri-urban areas.
While the related financing agreement is still pending and the identity of financial backers remains undisclosed, it is known that part of the funding is expected to come from Germany. According to the ANSER, this initiative is tied to a rural and peri-urban electrification program formalized during the German-African Energy Forum, which coincided with the contract signing. However, critical details such as the total capacity of the planned infrastructure, plant locations, and project start dates have yet to be revealed.
Headquartered in Nuremberg, Gauff Engineering specializes in complex infrastructure projects across water, energy, and transportation sectors. The company has a proven track record in Africa, including a project to electrify 300 villages in Senegal. Gauff’s expertise aligns with the ANSER’s mission to address energy access disparities in rural and peri-urban areas—regions often overlooked by private investors.
The ANSER was created in 2016 but began operating in 2020. Since then, it kicked off 53 projects and completed 22. By the end of 2025, it aims to increase energy production capacity to 30 megawatts (MW) and electrify approximately 459,330 households. Despite these efforts, rural electrification rates remain alarmingly low at just 1%, underscoring the urgency of scaling up initiatives like this one.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will have 111 million city dwellers by 2050, up from 43.3 million in 2020. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) made the forecast in its Report Dynamics of African Urbanization 2025. Releasd on March 6, 2025, the document was produced in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), Cities Alliance, and UCLG Africa.
City dwellers could thus make up nearly 64% of the DRC’s population by 2050, against 47% in 2020, and 50% anticipated in 2025. The surge would make the DRC home to Africa’s third-largest urban population, trailing only Nigeria (250 million) and Egypt (147 million).
According to the OECD, Kinshasa, the capital, will not the only to experience the projected city rush. The report’s authors expect the DRC to host 17 major urban agglomerations by mid-century, second only to Nigeria’s 30
"The increase in the area of large urban agglomerations is expected to be particularly rapid in Central and West Africa, with most of the fastest-growing large agglomerations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso," the report states.
The anticipated urban demographic explosion presents significant challenges for Congolese authorities. Access to basic public services such as water, electricity, education, and healthcare—will need to be scaled up dramatically. Infrastructure development, including roads and waste management systems, must also be prioritized to accommodate growing populations and ensure functional urban mobility.
However, the private sector could significantly profit from the dynamic, especially operators active in the housing, food, and transportation markets where city dwellers spend a lot.
This article was initially published in French by Espoir Olodo
.Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earned $3.11 billion last year. Ivanhoe Mines, which runs the mine, disclosed the figure in a note released on February 18, 2025.
This performance was attributed to a 5% increase in net copper sales volumes and a 6% rise in the average realized price per tonne compared to the previous year. Despite higher operating costs, the mine generated $1.4 billion in added value, $1.8 billion in operating income, and $777 million in net income in 2024.
Over the same period, the mine sold 397,976 tonnes of payable copper concentrates at an average price of $4.09 per tonne. However, a discrepancy of $470 million exists between calculated sales figures and those reported by the company. Despite inquiries, Kamoa-Kakula has yet to clarify this inconsistency.
In its memo, Ivanhoe highlighted the sales structure for 2025, revealing that buyers CITIC Metal and Gold Mountains have already provided a $500 million sales advance at a fixed annual interest rate of 3.75%, plus the average one-month SOFR rate at the time of finalization. Additionally, sales may be subject to adjustments based on international market conditions.
For the DRC government, transparency in these operations is critical since declared revenues form the basis for calculating taxes and royalties. In 2024, Kamoa-Kakula reported $307.1 million in royalties, production taxes, and other levies. Income taxes for the year are expected to exceed $345 million, while the government’s 20% stake in the project will yield $155.4 million in attributable net income.
Ivanhoe Mines is an indirect shareholder of the Kamoa-Kakula mine, through Kamoa Holding which owns 80% of the project.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Nsele municipality, located 9km from Kinshasa’s Ndjili airport, should house a major housing project in the next four years. Acacia Bandubola, the Land Affairs Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), announced the project on March 7, 2025, in an exclusive interview.
According to sources close to the matter, the project, known as Cité-Jardin, will comprise 5,800 homes and span 33 hectares. The same sources added that construction works began two weeks ago. However, the first stone is yet to be laid.
The project will be developed via a public-private partnership with Modern Construction, a subsidiary of the HJ Group of Companies, which has been involved in several notable projects in the DRC, including the Galerie La Fontaine and the Hilton Hotel.
While further details have not been disclosed, yet, various sources in the government and Modern Construction indicated that the government provides the land, and Modern Construction takes care of building and marketing the project.
Affordable, or not ?
On the related reservation platform, two- and three-bedroom units are priced at $59,900 and $79,900, respectively. Buyers can opt for financing through a bank or direct payment to Modern Construction, with a 20% initial deposit and the balance spread over five years.
Though the Land Affairs Minister claims that the houses aim to be “accessible to all Congolese”, these prices are out of reach for many Congolese. According to the World Bank, 73.5% of the population lived on less than $2.15 a day in 2024. Meanwhile, the country had a housing deficit of 4 million units in 2023, according to UN-Habitat. Kinshasa alone accounted for 54.4% of the demand. To meet this need, the government aims to build 143,092 housing units annually in the capital and 265,000 nationwide.
Cité-Jardin is presented as a pilot project to be replicated nationwide, to gradually reduce the DRC’s housing deficit. While lauding the project, concerned stakeholders recommend tackling various issues that impede real estate investments in the country. These issues, according to Malick Fall, Resident Representative of the International Finance Corporation, include land tenure problems, difficulties in establishing property titles, and an underdeveloped mortgage market.
If completed, the Cité-Jardin project will be a significant step forward in addressing the country's housing shortage, which has been largely unaddressed since the construction of Cité Mama Mobutu in the 1980s.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
On March 10, 2025, the price of a 25-liter drum of palm oil from Bandundu province surged by nearly 36%, climbing from 70,000 to 95,000 Congolese francs (CF) in Kinshasa markets. This sharp increase reflects a broader trend observed across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In Bunia, Ituri province, the price of a 20-liter can rose from CF60,000 to CF85,000 on March 4 a jump of 41%. Similarly, in Kikwit, Kwilu province, prices skyrocketed by 73% between January 15 and January 22, with a 25-liter drum rising from CF30,000 to CF52,000. Matadi, the capital of Kongo-Central, saw prices double in February, reaching CF60,000 for a 25-liter drum.
According to various media outlets quoting different sources, several factors are behind the price surge. Seasonal drought from January to March has significantly reduced palm oil production, particularly in northern provinces along the equator. At a February 5 meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, producers cited drought as one of the major challenges affecting plantations. Additionally, the advance of M23 rebels and their Rwandan allies in key production zones like North Kivu has disrupted supply chains and limited access to products.
The opening of new palm oil processing plants, such as Tshela, also boosted demand for palm nuts, subsequently exacerbating pressure on prices.
Despite its vast agricultural potential 60% of the DRC's estimated 280 million hectares are suitable for oil palm cultivation—the country struggles to meet domestic demand. By 2023, national consumption exceeded 500,000 tonnes annually, forcing palm oil to rank among the top five food imports. Kalaa Mpinga, Chairman of the FEC's National Agriculture and Forestry Commission, emphasized this gap in production capacity.
To address these challenges and boost production, the DRC plans to join the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) in 2025. Meanwhile, discrepancies in volume estimates highlight the need for better structuring within the sector.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Rawbank and Equity BCDC, the two main banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have turned to digital solutions to pay salaries in the eastern part of the country, currently invaded by M23 rebels and their Rwandan allies. This concerns especially Goma and Bukavu where the lenders recently had to shut their offices.
These arrangements were detailed last week at a meeting with Hilaire Ekobo, payment and monitoring director at the National Directorate for Teachers Wages (DINACOPE).
According to the meeting’s report, issued by the Ministry of National Education, Equity BCDC, one of the banks involved, has utilized digital platforms to credit teachers' accounts, allowing them to transfer funds to electronic wallets like Airtel Money, M-Pesa, or Orange Money via mobile banking apps. The funds can be withdrawn from authorized agents of telcos.
Going digital comes with drawbacks, including high withdrawal fees, of up to 10%. These significantly erode workers’ purchasing power. Regarding this, Rawbank has suggested using the Illico-Cash application for accessing funds and noted that ATMs remain operational.
According to the meeting’s report, bank representatives present have acknowledged the difficulties faced by teachers and other workers in using these digital solutions and have assured that improvements will be made.
The current challenges are not limited to civil servants; employees of NGOs and private companies also face similar hurdles in accessing their salaries due to the banking disruptions.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Since the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suspended cobalt exports on February 22, 2025, the price of cobalt hydroxide has surged by 84%, reaching $10.5 per pound, according to Fastmarkets data. Cobalt metal prices have also risen sharply, climbing over 43%. This dramatic price increase appears to validate Kinshasa’s strategy of leveraging its dominant position in the market accounting for approximately 75% of global supply to address a persistent surplus that has depressed prices for the past two years.
The suspension has disrupted supply chains, with Telf AG, the cobalt marketing agent for Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), activating force majeure clauses. ERG, the DRC’s third-largest cobalt producer after CMOC and Glencore, has warned customers it may not meet delivery commitments. This uncertainty is already rippling through the battery sector, where several Chinese manufacturers have adjusted costs and suspended some quotations.
Despite the immediate price spike, analysts remain cautious about long-term impacts. According to CRU Group, an estimated 85,000 tonnes of cobalt are stockpiled outside the DRC equivalent to six months of global consumption. These reserves could temper the price surge if the export ban is lifted and a flood of cobalt re-enters the market. To prevent such a scenario, Kinshasa is reportedly considering introducing export quotas to stabilize prices once exports resume.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether the DRC’s move is as smart as the Congolese authorities think. The global cobalt market, it is worth noting, is already marked by structural surpluses and geopolitical tensions.
This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou (Ecofin Agency)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
As the M3 rebels and their Rwandan allies keep gaining ground in the region, Alphamin Resources has temporarily halted operations at its Bisie tin mine in Walikale territory, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The firm announced the shutdown on March 13, 2025.
"On March 9, 2025, these groups occupied the town of Nyabiondo, the capital of the Osso-Banyungu sector, located some 110 kilometers northwest of Goma. On March 12, they continued their advance and took the locality of Kashebere, located 13 kilometers west of Nyabiondo (ed.note: and 172 kilometers from the mining site)," Alphamin Resources indicated.
Given the highly volatile context, Alphamin evacuated operational staff from the mine while retaining a small team to ensure the maintenance and security of the facilities.
The company said it hopes the coming peace talks in Angola on March 18 will be fruitful, enabling a quick resumption of operations. Meanwhile, the suspension has already sent ripples through the global tin market.
Tin prices surged following Alphamin's announcement. On the London Metal Exchange (LME), prices jumped 3.3% to $34,530 per metric ton, peaking at $34,815 the highest since July. Analysts from the International Tin Association (ITA) noted that three-month delivery prices reached nearly $36,000 per tonne, a peak not seen since June 2022.
Alphamin’s decision further strains a market already grappling with supply challenges, including difficulties at Myanmar’s Man Maw mine which barely resumed operations.
Alphamin’s Bisie tin mine is a critical player in global supply chains. Producing over 17,000 tonnes in 2024—6% of global tin output—the mine’s closure exacerbates concerns about shortages. In 2024, DRC and Myanmar accounted for 66% of China’s tin concentrate imports. The ITA highlighted that investment funds are increasingly bullish on tin prices as markets anticipate further upward pressure.
This article was initially published in French by Timothée Manoke (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
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The Kamoa-Kakula mine produced 86,000 tonnes of copper in January and February 2025. Ivanhoe Mines, which runs the mine, disclosed the figure in a note released on March 3. According to the source, “based on this performance, the total output for 2025 could stand between 520,000 and 580,000 tonnes, in line with annual forecasts.”
While this cumulative production over 59 days is significant, it translates to a daily average of 1,463 tonnes. If this pace continues throughout the year, the mine could yield approximately 534,000 tonnes within the projected range but not reaching its upper limit.
However, Ivanhoe Mines reported an acceleration in production during the last week of February, achieving a daily average of 1,589 tonnes. If this rate is maintained, total output could reach around 572,563 tonnes, nearing the upper forecast limit for 2025.
Kamoa-Kakula delivered 437,061 tonnes of copper in 2024, slightly below the initial forecast of 440,000 to 490,000 tonnes. Last October, the firm scaled down its forecasts due to power supply issues.
Since the beginning of this year, reports regarding the power supply at Kamoa-Kakula have been promising. "Since the beginning of the year, operations in phases 1, 2, and 3 of the Kamoa-Kakula complex have been powered by around 100 MW of hydroelectric electricity generated locally and imported," Ivanhoe Mines stated. “This capacity meets the current energy needs for all three phases of the project,”
The imported power primarily comes from the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric dam in Mozambique and the Kariba dam in Zambia. Ivanhoe Mines noted that these dams are experiencing a gradual improvement in water levels, which should enhance energy availability as southern Africa enters its rainy season.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
For the first time in its mining history, copper exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reached an impressive 3.1 million tonnes in 2024, according to a report released by the Congolese Ministry of Mines on March 6.
This marks a 13% increase from the previous year, largely driven by strong performances from the country's largest copper mines. The Chinese group CMOC, which operates the Tenke Fungurume and Kisanfu mining sites, reported a total production of 650,161 tonnes. Ivanhoe Mines, which runs the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine, achieved an annual output of 437,061 tonnes—up 12% from 2023.
This year, copper exports from the DRC could grow even more, fueled by a 3.7% increase in global demand, anticipated by Commodity Insights. Also, according to the British price analysis firm CRU Group, the DRC should produce 8% copper this year, compared to 2024. These developments solidify the DRC's position as the world's second-largest copper producer, a title it snatched from Peru in 2023. Last year, Peru’s copper output stood at 2.73 million tonnes, slumping by 0.7% year-on-year.
However, challenges persist. Congolese authorities have raised concerns that production from the Kamoa-Kakula mine is being sold at below-market prices, which could deprive the state of vital mining revenues. Moreover, the DRC must remain cautious about an economic slowdown in China—its top copper buyer—as this could impact export levels. During the first two months of 2025, imports of Congolese copper into China fell by 7.2%.
This article was initially published in French by Emiliano Tossou (Ecofin Agency)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Agricultural and agri-food exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reached a record $433 million in 2024, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which cited data from the Trade Data Monitor (TDM) platform. The figure compares with around $300 million in 2023 and less than $250 million in 2020.
While the report does not specify the exact factors behind this growth, it highlights that coffee and cocoa two of the DRC's top agricultural exports, and wood is the third saw substantial price increases in international markets last year.
The average annual price for Arabica rose to $4,099 per tonne in 2024, up 7.89% year-on-year. Robusta, which comprises over 70% of Congolese coffee production, reached an all-time high of $5,528 on November 28, 2024, closing the year with an average price of around $5,000 per tonne, up from approximately $2,400 at the start of 2024.
Cocoa prices also surged dramatically, climbing from $3,855 per tonne at the beginning of 2024 to $12,931 on the New York Stock Exchange by December 18 up by 172%.
Despite these impressive export figures, the USDA report indicates that the DRC remains in a trade deficit. Agricultural and food imports exceeded $1.9 billion in 2024, resulting in a deficit of about $1.46 billion. President Félix Tshisekedi noted in his State of the Nation address on December 11, 2024, that food imports cost the country approximately $3 billion annually.
This trade imbalance both strains the DRC's foreign currency reserves and highlights opportunities for developing local agricultural production to reduce reliance on imports. With over 80 million hectares of arable land available, there is considerable potential for growth in domestic agriculture.
According to TDM data for 2023, key food imports include palm oil, wheat, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. The DRC primarily sources food from the European Union, Zambia, Brazil, South Africa, and Namibia.
Espoir Olodo
On March 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the Trump administration to block a lower court ruling that ordered the immediate release of nearly $2 billion in payments to contractors and grantees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The decision is a major setback for President Trump’s efforts to freeze foreign aid funding.
For sub-Saharan African nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this could have far-reaching implications. Although it remains unclear whether the funds include allocations for the DRC, USAID has been a critical partner in the country, investing $6 billion over the past decade in sectors such as health, education, and humanitarian aid. As the largest bilateral donor active in 25 of the DRC’s 26 provinces, USAID’s contributions are vital in addressing challenges ranging from public health crises to infrastructure deficits. While substantial, the USAID support to the DRC lags behind China’s. For instance, Beijing, via Sicomines, is expected to invest $5.5 billion over 15 years in the DRC; in the mining sector alone.
While major, the Supreme Court’s ruling was narrowly focused on procedural grounds, noting that the administration had failed to meet deadlines set by lower courts. This leaves open the possibility of renewed legal challenges that could delay or alter future funding decisions. However,a swift resolution of legal disputes surrounding USAID support is critical for the DRC as the country already faces conflicts in its eastern regions.
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho