DRC Initiates New Review of China-Backed Mining and Infrastructure Cooperation
DRC Begins Comprehensive Review of China Infrastructure-for-Minerals Partnership to Boost Development Outcomes
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a new review of its strategic infrastructure-for-minerals partnership with China, aiming to assess the implementation of commitments and strengthen the effectiveness of one of the country’s most significant mining agreements.
A preparatory meeting for the review was held on July 21, 2026, at the Palais de la Nation in Kinshasa and was chaired by Anthony Nkinzo Kamole, Chief of Staff to President Félix Tshisekedi.
The meeting brought together key institutions responsible for overseeing the agreement, including the Steering, Coordination and Monitoring Agency for the Collaboration Agreement (APCSC), Gécamines, the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT), the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Ministries of Finance, Infrastructure, and Mines.
The formal evaluation began on July 23 and is expected to continue until mid-August 2026.
The exercise is being conducted under the provisions of Article 18 of the Collaboration Agreement and Article 1 of Amendment No. 5, signed in 2024, which require regular reviews of the partnership’s implementation.
According to the APCSC, the assessment will evaluate progress on agreed commitments, identify implementation challenges, and recommend measures to improve coordination and project delivery.
The infrastructure-for-minerals agreement, signed between the DRC and a consortium of Chinese companies, was designed to leverage the country’s vast mineral resources to finance major public infrastructure projects.
Over the years, it has supported the construction and rehabilitation of key infrastructure, including sections of National Road No. 1 (RN1), the Kinshasa Ring Road, the Kalamba-Mbuji Road, and other strategic transport projects.
Officials say the review is intended to ensure that infrastructure commitments continue to deliver tangible economic and social benefits while improving transparency, accountability, and coordination among all stakeholders.
Representatives of the Chinese delegation welcomed the evaluation process, describing it as an opportunity to review progress, address outstanding challenges, and strengthen cooperation between both countries.
The review comes as the DRC seeks to maximize the value of its mineral resources amid rising global demand for copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals essential for the energy transition.
It also reflects the government’s broader objective of ensuring that international mining partnerships contribute more effectively to sustainable infrastructure development and long-term economic growth.
