Congolese Lawyers Move to Halt DRC-US Mineral Deal

February 5, 2026 - Congolese lawyers and human rights groups have filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) seeking to halt the country’s mining deal with the United States. The deal, signed on December 4, 2025, allows American investors to control several mineral mines in the DRC in exchange for US support in building the country’s security forces. Earlier, on December 24, 2025, Catholic Bishop Fulgence Muteba criticized the agreement, calling it a mortgage of the country’s natural resources. Speaking to Catholics in Lubumbashi, he said:"Did you know that we signed a 99-year agreement to exploit natural resources? Precious minerals will not last forever. How can someone mortgage a country's resources for 99 years?" Following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US would support peace in the DRC and invest in mining, the DRC government sent a list of mines to Washington D.C. in mid-January 2026 for American inspection. In the January 2026 lawsuit, the lawyers argued that the agreement: Violates the Constitution, as it required Parliamentary approval or a popular vote before signing. Undermines the country’s sovereignty over natural resources. Contravenes the principle of equality before the law. Lawyer Jean-Marie Kalonji, one of the plaintiffs, said: "By filing this lawsuit with the Constitutional Court, we are fulfilling our obligations as Congolese to protect the sovereignty of our country and preserve our resources for future generations." The Oakland Institute, a US-based organization advocating for property rights, expressed support for the lawsuit, calling it well-founded and pledging to continue assisting the plaintiffs. This legal challenge marks a significant escalation in debates over the DRC’s mineral wealth, foreign investment, and national sovereignty, placing Tshisekedi’s government under intense scrutiny.