Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have established a paramilitary mining guard to protect mine sites and mineral supply chains, as the world’s leading cobalt producer seeks to curb smuggling and insecurity in the sector and boost investor confidence. The General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM) announced the move in a statement, specifying that the program will be funded with a budget of $100 million as part of strategic partnerships with the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The new unit will be gradually deployed in the country’s mining regions and is expected to reach over 20 personnel by the end of 2028. An initial contingent of between 2.500 and 3 men is expected to be operational starting in December, following recruitment and six months of training in collaboration with the armed forces. “The President of the Republic (Felix Tshisekedi) wants to clean up the entire mining sector, eliminating practices that conflict with good governance, transparency, and traceability of minerals,” said Rafael Kabengele, Inspector General of Mines.

As part of the DRC-US mining partnership, Virtus has acquired the copper and cobalt mining company Chemaf, while other Western companies have expressed interest in mining operations, including in rebel-held areas where insecurity has previously halted operations. The mining guard will specifically take over security duties currently performed by the armed forces. Its mandate will include securing mine sites, escorting mineral cargoes from extraction areas to processing plants and border posts, and safeguarding investments, the statement reads. Officials say the initiative should boost investor confidence and improve state oversight of mining production. The DRC, the world’s second-largest copper producer and home to significant reserves of lithium, coltan, and gold, is battling a Rwandan-backed rebellion in its mineral-rich eastern region, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Last year, Kinshasa signed a mining partnership agreement with the United States to strengthen supply chains and security, as Washington seeks to reduce China’s dominance in critical minerals.