Description: DRC’s General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM) announced that a paramilitary special unit would be established financed by the US and the UAE which would protect interests of US mining companies in the conflict laden country. Under the mandate of the General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM), the US and the UAE would deposit over $100 million for the establishment of a paramilitary special unit which would be tasked with providing security for the entire mining value chain in the eastern parts of the country. IGM further stated that a paramilitary force of 20 thousand personnel is expected to be dispatched by 2028 over 22 mining provinces in DRC’s east, which contain large reserves of coltan, lithium and cobalt. The first contingent of troops is expected by the end of 2026 where 2,5 thousand to 3 thousand troops are expected to be deployed to the region. The move follows last year’s initiative by US mining company Virtus Minerals which took over copper – cobalt mining firm Chemaf.
Impact: The fast – tracked peace process between DRC’s government and the M23 rebel alliance is likely going to be threatened by the preemptive announcement for investments and corporate takeover of the country’s major mining operations. Launching a private paramilitary force would likely add a layer of instability in a volatile region where the M23 rebel group primarily operates while the ISIS – affiliate, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) serve as a force multiplier in a severely non – permissive security environment. China is also a major player in DRC’s mining industry and would likely undertake countermeasures to prevent the monopolization of the country’s eastern resource – rich region such as launching a counterinitiative or enhancing operations in key mines under its control or impose restrictions on critical components to the US even further. The move is likely going to complicate the peace platform and reignite the conflict between the DRC and M23 rebel alliance which have established a firm control over mining operations across DRC’s eastern provinces.