Democratic Republic of Congo courts US mining funds

The DRC is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key component in electronics and is seeking to attract more Western funds. The Democratic Republic of Congo sought to speed up the implementation of a strategic mining partnership with the US, which is looking to rival China’s influence in Africa. The DRC, the world’s largest producer of cobalt, a key component in electronics, has already received US investment under the agreement as it seeks to attract more Western funds. If Washington’s plan is fully realized, Congolese minerals will flow west on a US-backed rail line to a port in Angola and then onward to the US. Though China remains by far the biggest investor in African mining, countries across the continent are looking to reduce their reliance on Beijing while expanding their control over more valuable sections of the supply chain.