US Denies Funding for New Congo Mine Security Units
The US embassy says it is not funding a new paramilitary force to guard mines in Congo despite claims from Kinshasa. The unit aims to secure mineral sites.
The United States denied funding a $100 million paramilitary force tasked with securing mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congo's mining regulator previously claimed the unit would launch through partnerships with Washington and the United Arab Emirates. Clarity on security funding is vital for investors eyeing Congo's supply of Copper and cobalt.
The U.S. embassy in Kinshasa clarified Tuesday that Washington is not currently funding any units to patrol or guard Congolese mines. This contradicts a Monday statement from the General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM) regarding a $100 million budget for the force. Congo's mining regulator also disputed the funding claim on Tuesday, stating that plans for the mining guard, while developed with multiple international partners, would not involve direct funding by any single country.
