The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a preliminary mining exploration agreement with US-based Kobold Metals, a move seen by observers as part of a broader geopolitical shift that includes a recently brokered peace deal with Rwanda.
The developments come amid growing American interest in securing access to critical minerals from the Central African country.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the Cité de l’Union Africaine in Kinshasa, in the presence of President Félix Tshisekedi.
Congolese Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba and Kobold’s DRC director Benjamin Katabuka formalized the deal, which aims to facilitate the digitalization of Congo’s geological data, apply advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence in mineral exploration, and launch a lithium mining project in Manono, Tanganyika Province.
“This partnership opens the door to American investment and aligns with the broader vision of US-Congo collaboration for peace and prosperity,” Katabuka said during the ceremony.
He added that Kobold Metals intends to fund the digital mapping of geological resources to make data more accessible to potential investors.
The deal follows the signing of a peace agreement between DR Congo and Rwanda last month, brokered with the support of US diplomats.
While official details of the peace pact have not been made public, regional analysts believe it may have included provisions that ease cross-border tensions in eastern Congo, particularly concerning the presence of armed groups like M23.
Following the signing of the peace deal last month, US President Donald Trump met Rwandan and Congolese foreign minister in the Oval Office during which he directly linked the peace process to US mineral access in Congo.
“They’re so honoured to be here. They never thought they’d be coming,” Trump said of the Congolese and Rwandan delegations, before declaring, “We’re getting, for the US, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it.”
The M23, who control swathes of the mineral-rich eastern part of the country, have variously accused President Tshisekedi of selling the country's minerals.
The M23 is running a parallel government with administration in Goma, North Kivu, where they generate revenue in excess of $1 million per month from minerals trade alone.
Kobold Metals, which is backed by major US investors including venture funds linked to Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, uses artificial intelligence to identify untapped mineral deposits.
Its entry into Congo is part of a broader strategy to secure sustainable sources of key minerals needed for electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
Katabuka also stated that the company plans to apply for research permits across vast tracts of Congolese territory using US geospatial technology.
He emphasized that the initiative would prioritize hiring and training local Congolese workers and contribute to infrastructure development in host communities.
The deal has been welcomed by government officials in Kinshasa as a sign of increased global confidence in the country’s stability.
However, civil society groups have urged transparency and local participation in the rollout of such large-scale ventures.
Pascal Mubake, a spokesperson for the Civil Society Forum in North Kivu, warned that “foreign investment in mining must not repeat past patterns where communities are excluded and only a few elites benefit.”
Though the agreement is still at a preliminary stage, its signing marks a deepening of U.S. engagement in Congo’s mining sector at a time when regional politics and global resource strategies are becoming increasingly intertwined.
Whether the peace agreement with Rwanda will hold — and whether the Kobold partnership delivers on its promises — may well define the next chapter in Congo’s long struggle to convert mineral wealth into national development.