DRC and USA Launch Strategic Economic Agreement for Shared Growth

WASHINGTON, D.C. — December 2025 As a key outcome of the Washington Peace Accord signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, the DR.Congo also formalized a major economic partnership with the United States.

This 10-point agreement aims to transform U.S.–DRC relations into a long-term strategic alliance focused on peace, prosperity, and regional stability through investment, mining cooperation, and critical infrastructure development.

1. Establish a strategic partnership between the United States and the DRC, reflecting the Parties' intention to transform their cooperation into a long-term strategic partnership that promotes peace, stability, and economic development;

2. Strengthen opportunities for cooperation in the areas of security, defense, and the protection of critical infrastructure, the safeguarding of territorial integrity and the DRC's strategic mineral reserves, the promotion of regional stability, and support for peace and security in Central Africa, in accordance with applicable international law and the national frameworks of both Parties;

3. Promote increased economic cooperation between the USA and the DRC by encouraging mutually beneficial investments and development opportunities that serve shared strategic interests, support long-term economic growth, and contribute to the prosperity of both countries.

4. Facilitate an increase in investments by American nationals and allied individuals in order to diversify the DRC’s mining sector, improve transparency and labor standards, and promote the flow of critical minerals that are secure, reliable, and mutually beneficial for both commercial and defense purposes between the USA and the DRC.

5. Align the development of the mining sector with complementary sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and transportation, in order to support local transformation and strengthen the DRC’s long-term development vision;

6. Establish a strategic cooperation mechanism on critical minerals and other key resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo;

7. Pursue and accelerate ongoing reforms in the DRC to improve its business environment, governance, and working conditions — especially in the artisanal mining sector — and to facilitate investments by American nationals and allied partners in mining, energy, infrastructure, technology initiatives, and other projects;

8. Facilitate stable, predictable, and sustainable access to the DRC’s critical minerals for American nationals and allied partners, in order to support the security and prosperity of both the United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and to promote local value addition, industrialization, and long-term economic growth in the DRC.

9. Promote the development of the Sakania–Lobito corridor in order to support economic and commercial relations between the Parties;

10. Strengthen opportunities for cooperation in the areas of security, defense, and protection of critical infrastructure, the safeguarding of territorial integrity and the DRC’s strategic mineral reserves, the promotion of regional stability, and support for peace and security in Central Africa, in accordance with applicable international law and the national frameworks of both Parties;