In 2026, global demand for critical minerals intensified competition in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rainfall, flooding, and soil erosion push rural populations away from agriculture and toward artisanal mining sites for more food security. These sites are influenced/taxed by armed groups that use revenues to support criminal operations.

Armed groups like M23 (reportedly backed by Rwanda) fuel violence, displacement, and illicit mineral taxation. Meanwhile Uganda’s suspicious gold exports are rising and rival foreign companies (CNMC and Orion) seek extraction rights. DRC has convened an emergency multilateral negotiation session in Kinshasa to balance security, environmental protection, and equitable development. 

 

Successful talks will lead to a more stable region with flourishing regional trade and global mineral supply chains.

 

Failure in negotiations will lead to more instability and violence in the region.