DR CONGO LAUNCHES PARAMILITARY FORCE TO PROTECT MINING SITES
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced plans to deploy a paramilitary unit to secure its vast mining sector.
The new force, introduced by the General Inspectorate of Mines, is aimed at protecting mining sites and mineral transport across the country, which produces about 70% of the world’s cobalt and holds major deposits of copper, coltan, and lithium.
Authorities say the initiative, backed by strategic partnerships with the United States and the United Arab Emirates, will strengthen control over the mineral supply chain.
Deployment is expected to expand gradually, with thousands of personnel to be trained and rolled out in phases.