Governor André Wameso has detailed how the Democratic Republic of Congo secured control over the development of the Manono lithium project, describing the diplomatic and strategic steps taken to unlock one of the country’s most important mineral assets.
Speaking in Washington, Wameso said U.S.-based KoBold Metals played a pivotal role during the due-diligence process initiated by the U.S. government before any strategic cooperation with the DRC could move forward.
He explained that the DRC was in the midst of an arbitration dispute with AVZ, and proposed to U.S. officials that if they could help facilitate a resolution between KoBold and AVZ, the country would guarantee access to Manono’s lithium. This led to a meeting in the United States involving KoBold, AVZ and American authorities, resulting in a negotiated proposal that has since been validated.
The agreement enabled KoBold to secure access to the southern section of the Manono deposit. Talks between KoBold and AVZ are still ongoing, though the DRC government is no longer directly involved.
Wameso said the outcome serves as a “proof of concept” for the DRC’s credibility in the global mining sector, reinforcing investor confidence and opening the door to new strategic partnerships for the country’s critical minerals.
