The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) plans to set up a paramilitary unit to secure the country’s large mining sites. The General Inspectorate of Mines (IGM), which oversees the country’s critical mineral deposits, announced the creation of “the mining guard” on Monday, April 27, 2026.

The unit will be backed by investments from the United States and the United Arab Emirates as both partners seek to secure access to strategic minerals, while the DRC continues to face rebel activity in parts of the eastern region.

Scope and mandate of the mining guard

The IGM described the plan as the establishment of a “paramilitary special unit intended to secure the entire mineral exploitation chain” in the DRC. The guard will be tasked with protecting mining sites and overseeing the transport of minerals across production corridors.

According to the statement, the programme includes a phased deployment of more than 20,000 guards by the end of 2028 across 22 mining provinces under IGM supervision. Recruits will undergo a six-month training programme, with the first contingent expected to be deployed in December.

Funding and governance objectives

The initiative is estimated to cost about $100 million and will be funded through partnerships with the United States and the United Arab Emirates, the IGM said.

President Felix Tshisekedi aims to “clean up the entire mining sector, by eliminating practices that run counter to good governance, transparency and the traceability of minerals”, according to the inspector general of mines, Rafael Kabengele.

Strategic minerals and regional context

The DRC produces about 70 percent of the global cobalt supply, a key mineral used in electric vehicle batteries and defence technologies. The country also holds significant deposits of copper, coltan, and lithium.

Chinese mining firms currently dominate the sector, while the United States has been seeking to reduce this influence through expanded partnerships and investment agreements. The mining sector remains affected by insecurity linked to armed groups operating in the eastern region, which is also rich in mineral resources.

In December, the DRC and Rwanda signed an agreement aimed at reducing conflict in eastern Congo. The deal includes an economic component focused on strategic minerals, aligning with US interests in securing supply chains.

The DRC and United States also signed a minerals partnership last year, under which US firm Virtus Minerals took over copper and cobalt miner Chemaf. Other Western companies have also shown interest in investing in the sector, including in areas affected by insecurity.