U.S. casts rivals’ mining deals in Africa as “Predatory”

Susan Burns, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Kenya, said current mining investments across Africa are “predatory.”

Speaking at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Expo hosted by the Kenyan government in Nairobi this week, Burns outlined Washington’s evolving approach, framing Africa as central to global supply chains powering modern industries. She cited the continent’s vast reserves of cobalt, copper, graphite and rare earth elements.

“Africa sits at the center of this strategy,” she said, adding that African governments are increasingly viewing the United States as a “more transparent, sustainable partner,” in contrast to what she described as “opaque, predatory investments” that have historically dominated the mining sector.

Her remarks underlines intensifying geopolitical competition for access to critical minerals, particularly between the United States and China, which has long held a dominant position in Africa’s mining and processing industries.

Burns said Washington’s objective is to build “secure, transparent, diversified and commercially viable supply chains” that allow producing countries to benefit more directly from their natural resources, rather than serving solely as exporters of raw materials.

The approach marks a departure from past U.S. engagement, which often emphasized development assistance, aid flows, and stronger focus on democratic governance and human rights records in African countries—factors that have defined U.S.-Africa relations for decades. “We’re not writing reports anymore. We’re making deals,” she said.

Burns also highlighted a policy shift, noting that the U.S. government is now taking equity stakes in mining ventures, an approach not previously typical of Washington’s overseas engagement. A key example of the strategy is the U.S.-backed partnership with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the world’s largest producers of cobalt. The agreement, part of broader Washington-led initiatives, aims to expand infrastructure, logistics and mineral processing capacity within the region.

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, Washington has intensified efforts to secure access to critical minerals, which are essential for advanced technologies and energy transitions. One of its primary targets has been the DRC. As part of this broader strategy, the U.S. has also sought to stabilize the region diplomatically, brokering a peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC. However, the agreement has not proven sufficient, as conflict continues in rebel-held areas of eastern Congo.

The ongoing violence has prompted Washington to take a firmer stance, including imposing sanctions on several senior Rwandan military officials accused of involvement in the conflict. At the same time, alongside its peacebuilding efforts, the U.S. has been actively pursuing mineral access in the DRC. American companies have been attempting to secure mining licenses and strengthen their foothold in the country’s extractive sector.

This week, Bloomberg reported that the DRC plans to establish a new paramilitary force to oversee and secure its mining sector, funded in part by the United States and the United Arab Emirates. According to the country’s General Inspectorate of Mines, the initiative will begin with a $100 million investment and deploy up to 3,000 armed recruits by the end of the year, with long-term plans to expand to 20,000 personnel by 2028.

The new unit, described as “mining guards,” will be responsible for protecting mineral production sites, ensuring the traceable transport of resources, and replacing existing security forces currently operating in mining zones. At present, policing is handled mainly by regular police, though military and presidential guards are sometimes deployed, often in violation of mining regulations. Over time, the new force is expected to fully take over these responsibilities.

Operations will begin in the mineral-rich Katanga region, known for its large reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, gold, and other valuable resources. The funding sources from the U.S. and UAE were not specified, but the move aligns with a broader strategic partnership signed between Washington and Kinshasa in December, aimed at improving the investment climate, boosting infrastructure development, and tackling insecurity in Congo’s mining industry.

Burns’ remarks reflect a broader recalibration of U.S. foreign policy, as Washington seeks to combine strategic competition with commercial engagement in regions critical to future industries.