World’s top cobalt producer, Congo, unveils $100 million US-backed guard for mine security

The Democratic Republic of Congo is moving to strengthen control over its mining sector with the launch of a $100 million US-backed mining security unit, aimed at improving oversight across cobalt and copper production sites that are central to global battery supply chains, officials said in a statement on Monday in Kinshasa.

The program, announced by the country’s mines inspectorate, is being financed through a $100 million arrangement supported by the U.S. and the U.A.E., reflecting renewed external involvement in efforts to formalize governance in one of the world’s most resource-rich mining economies. Authorities say the initiative is designed to improve security around extraction sites, transport routes, and border points where minerals move from mines to processing facilities.

20000 guard, 3000 start December training

At the core of the plan is a new paramilitary-style mining guard expected to grow to more than 20,000 personnel by the end of 2028. A first group of 2,500 to 3,000 officers is expected to begin operations in December after recruitment and six months of training alongside military units. Rafael Kabengele, inspector general of mines, said the aim is to strengthen oversight in the sector and reduce practices that undermine transparency and traceability in mineral flows.

The unit will gradually take over security duties currently handled by defence forces, including escorting mineral shipments and protecting mining assets. Officials say the goal is to reduce smuggling risks and improve investor confidence in a sector that has long faced insecurity, particularly in eastern Congo, where armed conflict involving a Rwanda-backed rebellion has displaced large populations and disrupted economic activity.

The security overhaul comes as Congo expands cooperation with the U.S. through a minerals partnership aimed at stabilizing supply chains and encouraging investment in critical minerals. The country remains the world’s largest producer of cobalt and a top supplier of copper, lithium, coltan and gold. That resource base has attracted interest from global investors, including Virtus, which took over copper-cobalt miner Chemaf, as well as Zijin Mining Group Co. and KoBold Metals Co., which are expanding exploration work tied to electric vehicle supply chains.

IMF sees $123 billion Congo economy in 2026

Broader economic signals have also supported the sector. The International Monetary Fund projects that the Congo will become sub-Saharan Africa’s fifth-largest economy in 2026, with gross domestic product expected at $123 billion. In financial markets, the country raised $1.25 billion earlier this year through its first dollar bond issuance, while the Congolese franc has gained more than 25 percent against the US dollar over the past year.

Authorities have also tightened control over strategic minerals, including cobalt, coltan and germanium, through a planned national reserve system managed by the mineral regulation agency. The policy follows earlier export restrictions and a quota system that reshaped global cobalt trade. Glencore has reported that Congo recorded no cobalt exports in 2025 under the current framework, underscoring how state policy continues to shape supply conditions.