The Democratic Republic of Congo is set to deploy a $100 million paramilitary force to secure its vast mining sector, with backing from the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The initiative aims to combat smuggling and stabilize operations in a country that stands as the world’s leading cobalt producer and Africa’s top copper supplier.
Under the plan, the General Inspectorate of Mines will recruit and train up to 3,000 armed “mining guards” by December 2026, with an ambitious target of expanding to over 20,000 personnel nationwide by 2028. These guards will assume critical roles currently handled by defense forces, including protecting mine sites, escorting mineral shipments to processing facilities and border posts, and safeguarding foreign investments. The first contingent is expected to be operational after six months of military-collaborated training.
The DRC’s eastern regions, rich in cobalt, copper, lithium, coltan, gold, tantalum, and tin, have long been plagued by insecurity. Ongoing conflict, including a Rwanda-backed rebellion, has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands, disrupting supply chains for critical minerals essential to global electrification and technology sectors.
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This security push aligns with Kinshasa’s broader strategy to attract foreign capital and bolster its position in the global minerals market. It also dovetails with Western efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from Chinese dominance. A recent partnership with Washington grants US companies preferential access to DRC mining assets, contingent on commitments to improve security and the business environment.
For mining companies, persistent instability has been a major barrier to investment in the DRC, Africa’s second-largest nation by land mass. The new force is seen as a step toward mitigating those risks, though the source of the US and Emirati funding—whether governmental or private—remains undisclosed.
The initiative comes at a pivotal time as global demand for battery metals like cobalt and lithium continues to surge. With the DRC holding some of the world’s largest reserves, the success of this $100 million security overhaul could reshape access to resources vital for the energy transition by late 2026.
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