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The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
After Ukraine deal, US turns its critical minerals gaze to Africa: Andy Home
Andy Home The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reached out to the Donald Trump administration with a Ukrainian-style proposal in February in response to the rapid advance of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group in the east of the country, The U.S. government has responded enthusiastically with a flurry of negotiations aimed at ending a decades-long conflict born out of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The political momentum is building towards a potential peace deal between Congo and Rwanda as soon as May, to be accompanied by bilateral minerals deals between both countries and the United States. At stake are the mineral riches of North and South Kivu provinces, a major but highly problematic source of metals such as tin, tungsten and coltan. Saving the Bisie tin mine The M23 rebels seized control of Goma and Bukavu, eastern Congo's two largest cities, in February. By early March, they had advanced rapidly westwards to Walikale, the location of the Bisie tin mine. Bisie is a poster child for ethical mining in the Congo, having transitioned from an artisanal site to a fully-modernised operation that is the world's fourth largest producer of tin concentrates. Bisie's operator, Alphamin Resources, quickly shut down and evacuated the site as M23 rebels closed in, sending tin prices into a frenzy and threatening the Congolese government with the loss of a major source of revenue. The fall of Walikale seems to have accelerated direct talks between the U.S. government, Congo and Rwanda, resulting in M23 fighters withdrawing in what they presented as a goodwill gesture ahead of Qatar-brokered peace talks. Alphamin resumed operations at Bisie on April 15. Armed riches Bisie is the only official-sector mine in North and South Kivu provinces. Everything else is artisanal. Researchers from The International Peace Information Service have mapped over 2,800 sites in eastern Congo since 2009 and collected information from 829 active sites that it estimated employed some 132,000 miners between 2021 and 2023. Of the sites surveyed, 85% were mining gold and most of the rest digging for the 3T minerals - tin, tungsten and tantalum, the latter occurring as coltan ore. The IPIS estimates that 61% of miners at these sites were affected by "armed interference", defined as coercive rent-taking, from one of the many armed groups operating in the region, not least the Congolese army. This has been a problem for many years. Indeed, Congo was the template for what became known as "conflict minerals" legislation such as the 2010 Dodds-Frank Act requiring U.S. companies to adhere to responsible sourcing rules. Sadly, not much has changed on the ground. The M23 rebels themselves are involved in the minerals trade. Artisanal producers of coltan in the town of Rubaya pay a 15% tax to the group, Reuters journalists found on a visit to rebel-controlled areas. The seepage of metals across Congo's eastern borders is a major problem, not just for the Congolese government, but also for Western buyers due to the threat of conflict minerals contaminating the official supply chain. The great railway game Congo's minerals wealth is undisputed and its potential rewards far more immediate than from the deal with Ukraine. A peace deal between Rwanda, Congo and the M23 rebel group would be an important first step to restoring order to the troubled Kivu provinces. But there are plenty of other armed groups actively operating in the region and it is unclear how far the United States would want to commit to any military presence to deter them. The prize, however, is tantalisingly large. Congo is also one of the world's richest sources of copper and cobalt, which are produced far away from the Great Lakes region in the southern province of Katanga. This part of Congo's mineral wealth is largely controlled by Chinese operators, which ship both raw materials and finished metal back to China. The West would love to loosen China's grip. A lot of investment is going into the Lobito Corridor project, which will rehabilitate and extend a railway line linking the Angolan port of Lobito with Congo's copper-belt mines. The aim is to use the railway as a generator of economic development and also open up a western transport route for Congo's metals. China's response is a $1.4 billion deal to upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia railway line that transports Chinese-produced metals eastwards to the port of Dar es Salaam. Railways have until now defined the great minerals game being played out between East and West in the heart of Africa. A minerals-for-security deal in the north of the country would open a whole new front in that strategic competition and a new chapter in Congo's history. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters. (Editing by Barbara Lewis)
Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
After Ukraine deal, US turns its critical minerals gaze to Africa: Andy Home
By Andy Home After Ukraine deal, US turns its critical minerals gaze to Africa: Andy Home LONDON, - Away from the headlines around the minerals deal with Ukraine, the United States has pursued a potentially even more significant critical metals deal in the Great Lakes region of Africa. The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo reached out to the Donald Trump administration with a Ukrainian-style proposal in February in response to the rapid advance of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group in the east of the country, The U.S. government has responded enthusiastically with a flurry of negotiations aimed at ending a decades-long conflict born out of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The political momentum is building towards a potential peace deal between Congo and Rwanda as soon as May, to be accompanied by bilateral minerals deals between both countries and the United States. At stake are the mineral riches of North and South Kivu provinces, a major but highly problematic source of metals such as tin, tungsten and coltan. SAVING THE BISIE TIN MINE The M23 rebels seized control of Goma and Bukavu, eastern Congo's two largest cities, in February. By early March, they had advanced rapidly westwards to Walikale, the location of the Bisie tin mine. Bisie is a poster child for ethical mining in the Congo, having transitioned from an artisanal site to a fully-modernised operation that is the world's fourth largest producer of tin concentrates. Bisie's operator, Alphamin Resources, quickly shut down and evacuated the site as M23 rebels closed in, sending tin prices into a frenzy and threatening the Congolese government with the loss of a major source of revenue. The fall of Walikale seems to have accelerated direct talks between the U.S. government, Congo and Rwanda, resulting in M23 fighters withdrawing in what they presented as a goodwill gesture ahead of Qatar-brokered peace talks. Alphamin resumed operations at Bisie on April 15. ARMED RICHES Bisie is the only official-sector mine in North and South Kivu provinces. Everything else is artisanal. Researchers from The International Peace Information Service have mapped over 2,800 sites in eastern Congo since 2009 and collected information from 829 active sites that it estimated employed some 132,000 miners between 2021 and 2023. Of the sites surveyed, 85% were mining gold and most of the rest digging for the 3T minerals - tin, tungsten and tantalum, the latter occurring as coltan ore. The IPIS estimates that 61% of miners at these sites were affected by "armed interference", defined as coercive rent-taking, from one of the many armed groups operating in the region, not least the Congolese army. This has been a problem for many years. Indeed, Congo was the template for what became known as "conflict minerals" legislation such as the 2010 Dodds-Frank Act requiring U.S. companies to adhere to responsible sourcing rules. Sadly, not much has changed on the ground. The M23 rebels themselves are involved in the minerals trade. Artisanal producers of coltan in the town of Rubaya pay a 15% tax to the group, Reuters journalists found on a visit to rebel-controlled areas. The seepage of metals across Congo's eastern borders is a major problem, not just for the Congolese government, but also for Western buyers due to the threat of conflict minerals contaminating the official supply chain. THE GREAT RAILWAY GAME Congo's minerals wealth is undisputed and its potential rewards far more immediate than from the deal with Ukraine. A peace deal between Rwanda, Congo and the M23 rebel group would be an important first step to restoring order to the troubled Kivu provinces. But there are plenty of other armed groups actively operating in the region and it is unclear how far the United States would want to commit to any military presence to deter them. The prize, however, is tantalisingly large. Congo is also one of the world's richest sources of copper and cobalt, which are produced far away from the Great Lakes region in the southern province of Katanga. This part of Congo's mineral wealth is largely controlled by Chinese operators, which ship both raw materials and finished metal back to China. The West would love to loosen China's grip. A lot of investment is going into the Lobito Corridor project, which will rehabilitate and extend a railway line linking the Angolan port of Lobito with Congo's copper-belt mines. The aim is to use the railway as a generator of economic development and also open up a western transport route for Congo's metals. China's response is a $1.4 billion deal to upgrade the Tanzania-Zambia railway line that transports Chinese-produced metals eastwards to the port of Dar es Salaam. Railways have until now defined the great minerals game being played out between East and West in the heart of Africa. A minerals-for-security deal in the north of the country would open a whole new front in that strategic competition and a new chapter in Congo's history. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Arabian Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Washington Accord Signals New Phase in Congo-Rwanda Peace Efforts
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have formalised a U.S.-mediated agreement aimed at drafting a peace deal by 2 May, marking a significant step towards resolving long-standing hostilities in eastern Congo. The declaration, signed in Washington on 25 April, commits both nations to respect each other's sovereignty, cease support for armed groups, and establish a joint security mechanism to combat regional instability. The agreement was signed by DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio present as a witness. The declaration outlines commitments to mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, and an end to support for armed groups destabilising the region. This development follows a series of diplomatic efforts, including Qatar-brokered talks in Doha, where the DRC government and the M23-led Alliance Fleuve Congo agreed to work toward a truce. The M23 offensive, which began in January 2025, has led to significant displacement and casualties in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. The U.S. has expressed interest in investing in the mineral-rich regions of eastern Congo, which hold essential resources like copper, cobalt, and lithium. The agreement opens the door for major U.S. public and private investments in the area, including sectors like tantalum and gold.
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US attempting deal to re-open Alphamin tin mine in war-hit Congo, sources say
April 9 (Reuters) - The United States is attempting to broker a deal that would ensure re-opening of a major tin mine in war-hit eastern Congo, four sources briefed on the negotiations told Reuters. The fate of Alphamin's Bisie mine was a point of discussion during the recent visit to Kinshasa by U.S. President Donald Trump's senior Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, the sources said, though Washington's involvement goes back several weeks. Washington and Kinshasa are also in talks about a broader deal on critical minerals partnerships, after Congo pitched a minerals-for-security deal to the Trump administration. The Bisie mine produced 17,300 tons of tin last year, representing around 6% of global mine supply. Alphamin announced last month it would temporarily cease operations at Bisie as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced nearby, taking the strategic town of Walikale and openly threatening the mine. M23 withdrew from Walikale last week, describing the move as a goodwill gesture ahead of planned Qatar-brokered peace talks with the government. However, the sources told Reuters M23 made the decision because Washington got involved directly with Congo and Rwanda. They said Washington pressed for M23 to withdraw 150 kilometres from the mine and for Congo's army not to attack the rebels. The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23. Rwanda has denied backing M23 and says its military has acted in self-defence against Congo's army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. Boulos was expected to raise the issue with Rwandan President Paul Kagame during his stop in Kigali on Tuesday, the sources said. Boulos told reporters in Kigali that Washington hopes Alphamin will "make some announcements soon with regards to resuming their operations". The company did not respond to a request for comment. "We definitely encourage them to resume their operations, and we appreciate the dialogue that is ongoing," Boulos said.
Express Tribune
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Qatargate scandal grips Israel as Netanyahu aides accused of secret Qatar campaign
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with the US Secretary of State at his office in occupied Jerusalem on February 16, 2025. Photo:AFP Listen to article Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office is facing renewed scrutiny after police arrested two close associates accused of receiving payments from Qatar to promote its image in Israel, intensifying concerns over foreign influence at the highest levels of government. The scandal, dubbed 'Qatargate' by local media, erupted this week with the arrests of Netanyahu's longtime media adviser Jonatan Urich and former spokesman Eli Feldstein. Both men are suspected of running a covert public-relations campaign to improve Qatar's standing in Israel while it served as a key mediator in ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel. Police allege the campaign included spreading negative narratives about Egypt—another mediator in the conflict—and funnelling payments through an American lobbyist. The suspects face potential charges including bribery, money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and illegal contact with a foreign agent. Netanyahu, who has provided a statement to police but is not a suspect in the case, called the investigation politically motivated and accused authorities of holding his advisers 'hostage'—a remark criticised by many given that dozens of Israelis remain in Hamas captivity. The scandal adds to mounting political pressure on Netanyahu, who is already standing trial for corruption and facing widespread protests over his handling of the Gaza war and internal institutional tensions. His recent attempt to dismiss the head of the domestic intelligence agency Shin Bet, which is investigating the alleged Qatar links, has drawn particular criticism. The nearly 18-month conflict in Gaza resumed after the collapse of a Qatar-brokered ceasefire last month. Qatar, often viewed with suspicion in Israel due to its ties with Hamas and hosting of the group's leaders, has denied backing the militants and insists its aid to Gaza was coordinated with Israel. Analysts say Qatar may have sought to reshape its image in Israel to protect its role as a mediator and maintain favour with US allies. A court document reportedly links the media campaign to efforts to influence Israeli public opinion and US policy. One journalist, Jerusalem Post editor Zvika Klein, was questioned after visiting Qatar and writing favourable pieces. He has been barred from media commentary pending the investigation. Feldstein is also facing trial in a separate case involving the leak of classified material. His and Urich's detentions were extended by a judge earlier this week. Critics argue the scandal underscores vulnerabilities in Israel's political system and raises questions about foreign governments' ability to access and shape internal policy. 'The abuse of public office in this case, if proven, is deeply troubling,' said Tomer Naor from the Movement for Quality Government in Israel. The probe has also complicated Netanyahu's relationship with security institutions. The dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar was frozen by a court amid concerns that it was an attempt to disrupt the investigation. Netanyahu has denied the claim but continues to pursue Bar's replacement. For now, the 'Qatargate' affair further tarnishes the embattled premier's record and deepens public discontent as the Gaza war drags on and domestic tensions mount.
