The Democratic Republic of Congo bets on troops to safeguard the world’s most critical clean energy supply chain.
Hannington Osodo, One Planet Agency
With backing from the United States and the United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo will shell out $100 million to establish a paramilitary security force to protect its mining sector by 2028.
Bloomberg reported that Congo, the world’s top cobalt producer and Africa’s largest copper supplier, has formalised a strategic partnership with Washington that gives American companies preferential access to its mineral wealth.
Under the deal, Kinshasa has committed to addressing persistent security challenges in its mining sector and improving its overall investment climate.
Longstanding instability has been the biggest deterrent for international mining companies considering operations in the DRC. The mineral‑rich east has endured prolonged armed conflict, and experts say strengthening security is essential to unlocking the country’s vast, largely untapped mineral potential.
The new security plan will deploy more than 20,000 paramilitary forces to protect minerals the world needs to fight climate change.
Why this matters for clean energy, sustainability and climate action
Cobalt and copper found in the Congo are irreplaceable in clean energy systems. Both minerals are foundational to green technologies. Cobalt is a critical component in lithium‑ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs) and store renewable energy. Copper is essential for EV motors, wind turbines and solar infrastructure. With the DRC holding the world’s largest cobalt reserves, securing stable production is essential for global clean‑energy targets.
Strengthening supply‑chain security will reduce dependence on conflict‑linked or opaque sources. The deal aims to create a regulated mining environment that allows clean‑energy manufacturers to source materials with greater confidence and reliability.
Unstable supply chains have pushed companies toward less transparent or less environmentally responsible alternatives, undermining the integrity of the green‑energy transition.
Security concerns have long suppressed private and institutional investment in the DRC’s mining sector, leaving vast deposits underdeveloped. A credible, well‑funded security framework could change the risk profile of mining in the country, unlocking capital for modern, environmentally compliant and efficient extraction aligned with ESG standards demanded by global investors.
Beyond minerals, sustained investment and security in the DRC can strengthen local economies, reduce poverty and build institutional capacity—prerequisites for meaningful participation in the global climate agenda. A more stable DRC is also better positioned to protect the Congo Basin rainforest, the world’s second‑largest tropical forest and a critical carbon sink. Regional security is directly tied to planetary climate health.
Potential pitfalls
The main challenge is overcoming entrenched armed‑group activity in the east. The region has been plagued for decades by a complex web of rebel factions, militias and foreign armed groups such as M23, which have gained territory in recent years.
These groups often control or tax artisanal mining operations, making them resistant to any formal security presence. A new paramilitary force will likely face armed pushback, ambushes and territorial disputes.
Corruption within the force could render the effort ineffective. The DRC’s military and police have a documented history of corruption, extortion and collusion with armed groups. Without rigorous vetting, oversight and accountability, the new force risks replicating these patterns and becoming another layer of exploitation rather than protection.
Millions of people, including women and children, depend on artisanal mining for survival. Large‑scale security operations have historically clashed with artisanal communities, displacing workers and deepening poverty. If the force is seen as serving foreign corporate interests over local livelihoods, it will face strong resistance.
Eastern Congo faces one of the world’s greatest humanitarian challenges. Poorly deploying a paramilitary force in a conflict‑affected, resource‑rich zone could result in serious human‑rights abuses. There are already documented cases of forced displacement, sexual violence and extrajudicial killings.
The DRC, Africa’s second‑largest country, has vast rainforest, poor road infrastructure and limited communication networks. Deploying, supplying and coordinating 20,000 troops across remote mining regions within two years is a major logistical undertaking, raising questions about whether US$100 million is sufficient.
Governance is another concern. The central government in Kinshasa has historically struggled to project authority beyond the capital. Shifting political alliances, weak institutions and regional dynamics—including interference from neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda—could undermine long‑term planning.
There is also a risk that a well‑funded, 20,000‑strong force tied to mining revenues could be co‑opted by political elites and used to suppress opposition, intimidate communities or consolidate economic power, especially in a country with a history of resource‑linked authoritarianism.
What the initiative needs to succeed
The force must operate under a transparent command structure with independent civilian oversight, including representation from international monitors, Congolese civil society and human‑rights bodies. Clear rules of engagement, whistleblower protections and publicly reported performance metrics are essential.
Every recruit will require rigorous vetting and professional training to handle civilian interactions. Individuals with histories of human‑rights abuses or militia affiliations must be excluded.
Artisanal miners should be integrated into the security framework rather than targeted. This includes creating legal pathways for registration and support. The force should protect, not persecute, artisanal workers.
Coordination with existing peacekeeping and diplomatic efforts is essential. The force should not operate in isolation from the UN mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), regional bodies such as the African Union, or ongoing peace negotiations with armed groups, to avoid duplication and escalation.
Community inclusion is central to long‑term success. Security alone will not build sustainable peace. Complementary investments in agriculture, education, healthcare and small‑business development in mining regions will reduce economic desperation, a key driver of armed‑group recruitment.
Community‑based benefit agreements with mining companies and recruiting individuals from mining communities into the force will build trust and local ownership.
Women in eastern DRC have disproportionately borne the cost of mining‑related conflict. Actively recruiting women into the security force and supporting their participation in artisanal mining will strengthen the initiative’s legitimacy and outcomes.
Ultimately, the initiative’s success depends on whether it is designed with the Congolese people, not merely for external economic interests.
Security without justice, inclusion and shared prosperity will not hold, and the world’s clean‑energy future cannot be built on the continued marginalisation of the communities living atop the minerals that power it.
OPA News Agency
