DRC creates paramilitary mining security unit backed by US and UAE funding

The Democratic Republic of Congo has created a new paramilitary mining security unit backed by U.S. and Emirati funding, according to reporting on April 27.

The General Inspectorate of Mines said the force is intended to secure mine sites, mineral transport and foreign investments. AP reported that the program is tied to a $100 million funding package, while Bloomberg and other outlets corroborated the announcement.

The first deployment target is 2,500 to 3,000 personnel by December 2026. Longer term, officials want the force to grow to more than 20,000 personnel by 2028.

The move highlights the central role mining still plays in Congo's economy and security planning. The country is one of the world's top sources of cobalt and a major producer of copper, and armed groups and smuggling have long complicated efforts to control extraction and transport.

For now, the key question is how quickly the government can train and deploy the new force, and what form U.S. and UAE support will take beyond the reported funding package. The announcement was also notable because it follows an embargoed release from the mining inspectorate that became public the same day.