US discusses minerals deal with DR Congo worth billions

The United States is in talks to invest billions of dollars in mineral-rich DR Congo and wants to help end a conflict raging in the country's east, President Donald Trump's senior adviser for Africa said during a visit on Thursday.

Democratic Republic of Congo, which has vast reserves of cobalt, lithium and uranium among other minerals, has been fighting Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who have seized swathes of its territory this year.

The US, which on Wednesday sent shockwaves across the world by announcing a 10% baseline tariff on all imports, said last month that it is open to exploring critical minerals partnerships with Congo after a Congolese senator contacted US officials to pitch a minerals-for-security deal.

"You have heard about a minerals agreement. We have reviewed the Congo's proposal, and...the president and I have agreed on a path forward for its development," U.S. senior adviser Massad Boulos said after meeting Congo President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa.

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Senior Advisor Massad Boulos, alongside Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Corina Sanders, set to visit Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.

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