On the sidelines of the 2026 Mining Indaba, the Democratic Republic of Congo hosted an investment forum focused on Lualaba province, underscoring its strategic position as the source of roughly 70 percent of the world’s cobalt, a metal essential to electric vehicle batteries and other advanced technologies.
Governor Fifi Masuka used the gathering to call for broader international investment in the cobalt-rich province, signaling Kinshasa’s intent to diversify its partnerships beyond existing players.
“Do the Americans want to come for strategic minerals? Yes. That is well known. But they are not the only ones,” Masuka said, quoted by RFI. “The whole world wants these minerals. We are also looking to Europe. The Chinese are already here. We welcome new capital, particularly in Lualaba.”
At a “DRC Breakfast” event held alongside the conference, Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba emphasized the country’s investment appeal amid what he described as a strategic repositioning of Congo at the heart of global critical mineral supply chains.
“DRC is the right place to be,” he said, referencing recent discussions in Washington.
Details of emerging agreements with the United States remain unclear. Albert Zeufack, regional director at the World Bank, cautioned that Congo must establish a clear roadmap to manage any surge in foreign capital.
“If these resources are well managed, well negotiated and well exploited, they will benefit the population,” Zeufack said, urging African leaders to seize the current geopolitical moment responsibly.
Congo has also announced the start of rehabilitation work on the Lobito Corridor, linking its mining regions to Angola’s Atlantic port — a route seen as strategically important for the United States and Europe, offering an alternative export pathway to China via the Indian Ocean.
M&B with RFI