SNAPSHOT: U.S.-DRC-RWANDA STRATEGIC MINERALS AGREEMENT

On 4 December 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed the ‘Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity’ in Washington, D.C.

Central to the package is a U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership Agreement on minerals, signed alongside a DRC-Rwanda peace accord, and complimented by a parallel U.S.-Rwanda minerals framework focused on downstream processing. These instruments firmly integrate the DRC and Rwanda into the U.S. critical-minerals strategy.

Below is a snapshot of the framework most relevant to mining investors:

U.S.–DRC Minerals Agreement - The Strategic Partnership Agreement creates a Strategic Asset Reserve (SAR) covering designated mining concessions, deposits and high-priority geological zones in DRC, with an initial SAR list to be submitted shortly after the agreement enters into force. U.S. investors (and “aligned persons”) are granted a right of first offer (ROFO) and an exclusive negotiation window for SAR projects, marking a significant departure from prior tender processes and allocations.

A Joint Steering Committee (JSC), co-chaired by the US and the DRC, oversees SAR eligibility, ROFO timelines, project approvals and offtake parameters, and reviews changes in ownership and applicable incentive frameworks. The Parties will also explore establishing a Strategic Minerals Reserve (SMR) in the DRC to support supply stability, price resilience and local value addition.

The partnership is anchored by U.S. support for enabling infrastructure, including the Grand Inga hydropower project, the Lobito rail and export corridor, and other strategic projects designated by the DRC. It also contemplates targeted fiscal and regulatory reforms, such as VAT relief and accelerated refunds, stabilization measures, a strengthened guichet unique, and more centralized tax administration for SAR-designated and other Qualifying Strategic Projects.

U.S.–Rwanda Minerals Cooperation – In a parallel arrangement, the United States and Rwanda agreed to expand cooperation on tantalum, tin, tungsten and other critical-mineral, as well as refined-concentrate exports. This framework integrates Rwanda’s processing capacity and energy projects into U.S. supply chains. For mining companies and investors, this has direct implications for downstream processing, offtake structuring, traceability and compliance, particularly for concentrates originating in, or transiting through, the DRC.

All of this is framed through a ‘Regional Economic Integration Framework’ (REIF), for cross-border integration in energy, infrastructure, and mining, including shared use of corridors. Its benefits are contingent on implementation of the security track under the peace agreement.

Realignment - Collectively, these instruments are designed to reduce U.S. reliance on China-controlled critical-minerals supply chains. The SAR and ROFO mechanisms grant U.S. and aligned investors privileged early entry to strategic mineral assets, backed by U.S. development-finance tools.

Compliance - Investors can expect a fragile security environment and layered regulatory requirements under U.S. law, the DRC Mining Code and related fiscal legislation, and Rwanda’s processing and traceability framework. These overlapping obligations will have implications for deals and offtake arrangements.

Investor Takeaways - For mining companies and investors, the framework has several practical implications:

• Access – SAR designation and ROFO rights create a U.S.-aligned access pathway, giving U.S. and aligned investors a materially earlier seat at the table. Early engagement with U.S. agencies and the DRC will determine who enters the first negotiation window.

  
  

• Alignment – The framework is designed to favour U.S. and “aligned” investors. These groups will enjoy privileged positioning for partnerships, offtake arrangements and U.S.-anchored financing.

  
  

• Scrutiny – Transfers, farm‑ins, restructurings and exits involving SAR‑linked assets will be subject to JSC review which may add regulatory steps and potential conditions.

  
  

• Security – Implementation of the peace track remains the gating factor. Project economics should continue to discount for security volatility until stability is sustained.

Serus Legal continues to monitor developments in mineral security and supports clients across the critical-minerals value chain, from project acquisition and development to structuring and compliance with evolving U.S., EU and regional frameworks.

Why Serus? – Serus is a law firm that leverages technology and lower overheads to provide legal services at significantly better value. Our multilingual team advises on options for critical-mineral support—financial, regulatory and policy-driven—in the U.S., EU and elsewhere.

To learn more, contact us or email info@seruslegal.com. This Snapshot is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.