Rwanda: Congress Members 'Alarmed' By U.S.-DR Congo Mineral Deal

A group of U.S. Congress members expressed alarm over a recent critical minerals agreement between the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The lawmakers raised concerns that the deal could violate human rights, environmental protections, local economic development, and congressional oversight. The Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the U.S. and DR Congo grants U.S. companies a "right of first offer" on mining concessions, potentially allowing them preferential access to the country's mineral resources.

The congress members acknowledged reports of a U.S. paramilitary force protecting mining operations in DR Congo, which they question for its potential to interfere with internationally recognized labor rights, including freedom of association. They also expressed concern about the administration's potential lifting of Magnitsky Act sanctions on Israeli businessman Dan Gertler to facilitate a cobalt deal.

In relation to Zambia, the lawmakers criticized the use of U.S. development assistance as leverage in negotiations for a critical minerals agreement, describing it as "callous and unacceptable." They connected reductions in U.S. foreign aid, particularly healthcare assistance, to the interests of American mining companies and questioned the administration's assessment of the impact on local workforces and U.S. companies operating abroad.

The lawmakers also expressed concerns about the terms offered to mineral-producing countries in other agreements, such as Malaysia, Argentina, Ecuador, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. They argued that these agreements may limit partner countries' ability to develop value-added processing and manufacturing industries instead of remaining reliant on extracting raw materials. The members questioned whether the U.S. approach could leave developing countries in a dependent position, focusing solely on supplying minerals.

Environmental and labor protections were also a common concern among the agreements, with the lawmakers emphasizing that poorly regulated mining has caused environmental damage, displacement, harm to Indigenous communities, and widespread labor and human rights violations. They called for any agreement on critical minerals to address these harms and avoid reinforcing extractive models prioritizing mining profits over communities and workers.