The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking an unusual step to secure its critical minerals. It plans to create a new paramilitary unit to protect mining sites and transport routes, backed by funding and support from the United States (US) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In the past, mining companies contracted private security companies to protect their assets and infrastructure. For instance, in 2020, Frontier Services Group Congo signed an agreement with a Chinese mining firm, Sicomines, to provide security services for its mining operations.
But the scale and geopolitical significance of mineral security in the DRC has changed significantly. The country hosts substantial deposits of critical minerals, including cobalt, copper and other resources, that are used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and modern technologies. As global demand for these resources rises, control over their extraction, transport and trade is becoming increasingly strategic.
