U.S. Considers Over $1 Billion for Critical Minerals and Railway Projects in Central Africa
U.S. Advances Funding Talks for Mineral and Rail Projects in Central Africa
The United States is in talks to provide more than $1 billion in support for two major initiatives in Central Africa, as Washington seeks to secure supplies of minerals considered essential for national security.
According to the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the agency plans to back a new copper and cobalt partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Gécamines and Switzerland’s Mercuria Energy Trading, along with a railway project connecting the DRC and several Central and Southern African countries to Angola’s Atlantic coast.
“These projects will help secure vital supply chains, expand private-sector opportunity, and strengthen America’s global competitiveness, while supporting peace, prosperity, and dignity in Central Africa,” said DFC CEO Ben Black in a statement.
President Donald Trump has made access to strategic minerals for defense and high-tech industries a priority, leading to an increasing number of agreements with African partners.
With Chinese companies dominating global mining and processing, Washington aims to diversify supply chains and reduce dependence on China.
The DFC announcement follows the signing of a strategic infrastructure and minerals partnership between the United States and the DRC. Congo holds significant reserves of critical minerals, including copper, cobalt, lithium, tantalum, and manganese.
Mercuria and Gécamines confirmed their copper and cobalt trading agreement on Friday. “The partnership would grant U.S. end users a right of first refusal, providing American industries with access to minerals essential for economic growth and competitiveness,” Gécamines said in a statement.
Under the new U.S.–DRC partnership, Congo has pledged to route a greater share of its mineral exports westward via the Lobito Corridor toward the Atlantic, instead of primarily sending shipments south or east.
The DFC is also proposing up to $1 billion in financing to Portugal’s Mota-Engil for the rehabilitation, operation, and transfer of the Dilolo–Sakania railway line in the DRC, which will link directly to the Lobito Corridor.
