Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi said his government will not “auction” the country’s mineral wealth to the United States, pushing back against Washington’s efforts to resolve the ongoing violence in the DRC’s eastern provinces, Reuters reported on Monday.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Tshisekedi also noted that he met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss the peace process in the conflict-affected region.
Eastern DR Congo, rich in minerals, has seen escalating clashes since January between government forces and the M23 rebel group, which has captured key cities including Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu. Thousands have reportedly been killed in the fighting.
In June, DRC signed a peace agreement with Rwanda—accused by Kinshasa of arming the rebels, a claim Kigali denies—with mediation from former US President Donald Trump. The pact includes a joint security mechanism, a 90-day Rwandan troop withdrawal, and provisions for disarmament and reintegration. Trump’s administration has also linked the deal to US access to the region’s mineral resources.
Tshisekedi, however, said the agreement has failed to halt the violence, though he expressed gratitude to Trump for his efforts. “We will, as part of this partnership, be working in the development of the mining sectors, developing the value chain, developing infrastructure with a particular emphasis on energy,” he said. “[It] does not mean that we will auction our mineral resources.”
The president further alleged that Rwandan officials have “pretended to withdraw their troops, but in reality they are increasing their support to M23.”
Meanwhile, the Congo River Alliance (AFC)—a coalition of armed groups including M23—accused Kinshasa of breaching agreements intended to end decades-long conflict. Earlier talks mediated in Qatar resulted in a declaration in July setting a timeline for peace, but the two sides missed an August 18 deadline to finalize a ceasefire, prompting renewed negotiations.
