DR Congo Announces $100M Initiative for Mining Guards to Secure Mineral Assets
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government announced a $100 million initiative on April 29, 2026, to establish a specialized force of 'mining guards.' This initiative, supported by investments from the United States and the United Arab Emirates, aims to secure strategic mining sites like Rubaya, which are currently contested or held by M23 rebels. The move is intended to facilitate secure mineral exports to Western partners and reduce reliance on informal security actors and militias in the mineral-rich eastern provinces.
Date: April 29, 2026
Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Conflict: M23 Rebellion
Category: infrastructure
Severity: MEDIUM
Source: Health Policy Watch