Congo Creates 20,000-Strong Paramilitary Force to Secure Mining Operations

The Democratic Republic of the Congo announced creation of a paramilitary unit to secure its mining sector, with backing from the United States and United Arab Emirates, aiming to reach over 20,000 personnel by 2028. The force aims to protect mining operations, strengthen state control over resources, and reassure foreign investors as global competition for critical minerals—essential for batteries, semiconductors, and renewable energy—intensifies. This matters globally because the DRC controls roughly 70% of world cobalt reserves and significant deposits of other minerals critical to the clean energy transition, making mineral supply security a strategic concern for major economies including the U.S.