President Felix Tshisekedi met with U.S. senior advisor Massad Boulos on Thursday to discuss a possible mining deal as conflict intensifies in the country’s mineral-rich east.
Boulos, appointed by former President Donald Trump as a senior Africa and Middle East advisor, arrived in Kinshasa for high-level talks.
According to the Congolese presidency, discussions focused on securing U.S. investment in DR Congo’s vast reserves of lithium, cobalt, tin, and gold, vital for global industries.
For three decades, eastern DR Congo has been plagued by violence, with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group escalating attacks in recent months.
The group seized Goma, capital of North Kivu, in January, followed by Bukavu in neighboring South Kivu.
On Thursday, sources confirmed the M23’s withdrawal from Walikale, a key mining hub.
Boulos acknowledged DR Congo’s proposal for collaboration but refrained from announcing a formal agreement.
“There cannot be economic prosperity without security,” he said, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to regional peace efforts.
His itinerary includes visits to Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda, aligning with Washington’s push for stability and private sector investment in Central Africa.
Diplomatic sources suggest that mining interests dominated discussions, as Tshisekedi has hinted at U.S. involvement in the sector.
However, transparency concerns persist, with much of the region’s resources controlled by opaque networks and Chinese firms.