Keypoints:
- US plans $1bn investment
- Deal grants priority access for US
- Rail shifts exports to Atlantic corridor
THE United States is preparing to commit more than $1bn to a pair of strategic projects in central Africa, in a move aimed at securing critical mineral supplies and reshaping export routes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Bloomberg reports that the planned investment would support a new copper and cobalt joint venture between state miner Gecamines and Switzerland’s Mercuria Energy Trading, as well as a major rail upgrade linking mining regions to Angola’s Atlantic coast.
The move forms part of President Donald Trump’s wider effort to challenge China’s dominance in the mining and processing of metals central to advanced technology and defence manufacturing. Washington has been working to build new supply lines with African countries as it seeks to reduce exposure to Chinese-controlled refining and trading networks.
Securing US access
The US International Development Finance Corp (DFC) intends to anchor the deal, with chief executive Ben Black saying the projects would support both economic and strategic goals.
‘These projects will help to secure vital supply chains, expand private sector opportunity, and strengthen America’s global competitiveness, while supporting peace, prosperity, and dignity in central Africa,’ Black said in a statement quoted by Bloomberg.
The announcement came shortly after the signing of a US-Congo strategic partnership focused on minerals and infrastructure. Under the arrangement, Congo is expected to redirect a larger share of its mineral exports westward through the Lobito Corridor, using Angola’s port facilities as its Atlantic gateway. Most of the DRC’s copper and cobalt currently travel south to South Africa or east to ports linked to Asia.
Congo’s mineral power
Congo is home to some of the world’s most valuable deposits of battery and high-performance metals including copper, cobalt, manganese, lithium and tantalum. Cobalt is especially important for aerospace alloys and next-generation energy storage technologies, with the DRC supplying a major share of global production.
In an emailed statement cited by Bloomberg, Gecamines said the partnership with Mercuria would provide US buyers with priority rights on mineral exports tied to the venture.
‘The partnership would grant US end users a right of first refusal, providing US industries with access to critical minerals essential for economic growth and competitiveness,’ the company said.
Mercuria and Gecamines confirmed their new copper and cobalt trading tie-up on Friday, marking a step toward building a dedicated channel for US-linked industrial supply chains.
Rail link to Atlantic ports
A significant portion of the planned investment is set to support the Dilolo–Sakania railway rehabilitation. The DFC is proposing up to $1bn in financing for Portugal’s Mota Engil SGPS to restore and operate the line, which would connect Congo’s mining belt to the Lobito corridor in Angola.
The new route is expected to shorten transport times to Atlantic ports, reduce reliance on routes through southern Africa and offer alternative access for exporters seeking non-Chinese logistics networks. The railway is also seen as a platform for wider regional integration, opening trade options for central and southern African economies.
The US sees the infrastructure plan as a foundation for deeper commercial ties with Congo and a way of encouraging private investment into processing and logistics. By linking the deal to guaranteed access for US buyers, Washington aims to signal long-term commitment and attract companies developing technologies reliant on rare minerals.
The partnership with Congo marks one of the most significant recent US engagements in central Africa’s extractive sector, combining market access guarantees with infrastructure financing to shift trade flows toward the Atlantic.
