Congo Pitches Its Critical Minerals Role at U.S.-Led Ministerial in Washington

The Democratic Republic of Congo used a U.S.-hosted ministerial meeting on critical minerals this week to reinforce its position at the center of global supply chains for battery and energy-transition metals. Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba, speaking in Washington on behalf of President Félix Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, welcomed a U.S. push to coordinate international approaches to sourcing minerals amid growing geopolitical competition.

Watum Kabamba cited Congo’s dominance in cobalt, which accounts for more than 70% of global output, and its roughly 10% share of world copper production, framing the country as indispensable to downstream industries. He said mining exports exceeded $25 billion in 2024 and highlighted the scale of untapped geological potential, noting that more than 90% of reserves remain unexplored, with official estimates valuing those resources at more than $25 trillion. The remarks come as Washington and its partners seek closer engagement with resource-rich countries to secure supply while tightening standards around traceability and governance.