DRC and UAE Forge $1.9 Billion Partnership to Revamp Eastern Congo's Troubled Mining Sector

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a partnership worth over $1.9 billion to develop several mines in eastern Congo. The deal, announced by Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi's office, aims to set up more than four industrial mines that will connect the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema.

The UAE delegation, led by Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE's Minister of State, includes both private and public business leaders. The Congolese government officials present at the signing ceremony included the deputy prime minister, the minister of defense, and the ministers of mines, portfolio, and public health.

While the statement did not specify which minerals will be mined, it is known that the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema are rich in gold, tin ore, and tantalum. These regions have also been plagued by violence from armed groups for decades, some of which finance their activities through the illegal minerals trade.

Reports from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that attacks by non-state armed groups in eastern DRC have displaced approximately one million people since January, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons in the country to an estimated 6.1 million.

In another development, the DRC signed a 25-year contract with UAE firm Primera Group in December, granting them export rights for artisanally mined ores. The agreement aimed to combat mineral trafficking to armed groups in the country's east. Primera Group obtained a majority stake in two joint ventures, Primera Gold and Primera Metals, which provided preferential export rates for gold, coltan, tin, tantalum, and tungsten.

The latest partnership between the DRC and the UAE is seen as an opportunity to develop the mining sector in the troubled eastern region, which has suffered from ongoing armed conflict and instability. The UN estimates that up to 120 different militia groups are active in the area, sustained in part by smuggled minerals.

However, concerns have been raised about the traceability mechanisms in place to ensure the legality of the supply chain, as the UN report suggests that ore from sites controlled by armed groups could be mixed in. Despite the presence of regional peacekeeping forces and a UN military contingent, the conflict in eastern DRC persists, resulting in millions of internally displaced and refugees.

The Norwegian Refugee Council reports that at least 5 million people are internally displaced, with an additional one million fleeing abroad since May 2021. The partnership between the DRC and the UAE aims to promote stability and economic development in the region, with a focus on responsible and sustainable mining practices.