Tshisekedi seeks mineral deal with US and EU as M23 gains ground in eastern DRC

Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi has called on the US and EU to buy minerals directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His appeal comes as M23 advances in eastern DRC, seizing Goma and other key cities.

Tshisekedi’s spokesperson, Tina Salama, said on X the offer was first extended to the U.S., arguing that the Trump administration had exposed Rwanda’s role in exploiting DRC’s wealth. She then added that the proposal was also open to European nations, warning that “receiving stolen goods will become increasingly complicated.”

The EU and US currently source minerals such as coltan and cobalt from Rwanda. This is facing growing scrutiny as M23 expands its control over Congo’s resource-rich areas. The European Parliament has already called for suspending the EU’s 935 million euro deal with Rwanda over concerns about illicit minerals. On Monday, the EU Foreign Affairs Council will debate the suspension and consider further sanctions.

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M23, which resurfaced in 2021, has captured Bukavu and is now advancing toward Uvira, near Burundi’s border. The militant group seized the city of Goma in January. Over 3,000 people were killed and thousands were displaced in the fighting.

Tshisekedi has rejected direct talks with M23 and has insisted on negotiations with Rwanda instead. As peace efforts falter and the DRC military struggles to contain rebel advances, Kinshasa is betting on Western support to regain control over its territory and resources.

^{The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) struggle to keep control over mineral-rich areas in the east of the country, where the Rwandan-backed group M23 is seizing towns © Luis TATO / AFP}