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Spotlight | DRC
Pressured by Washington, Kinshasa sits on the fence over Chemaf sale

Félix Tshisekedi shakes hands with Donald Trump under the watchful eye of Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on 5 February 2026. © Al Drago / Reuters

Backed by senior officials at the National Security Council and the State Department, US operator Virtus Minerals must still secure the approval of Félix Tshisekedi's government to proceed to the acquisition of Chemaf's copper and cobalt mines. In Kinshasa, American pressure has provoked mistrust and unease at the highest levels of the state. [...]

Published on 25/02/2026 at 05:40 GMT Updated on 25/02/2026 at 10:17 GMT Reading time 5 minutes Olivier Liffran

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Spotlight | DRC
Pressured by Washington, Kinshasa sits on the fence over Chemaf sale

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Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Spotlight | DRC Pressured by Washington, Kinshasa sits on the fence over Chemaf sale

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Related topics to this article

DRC Kinshasa gains ground in lithium arbitration against AVZ Minerals

DRC Glencore puts up $60m to settle tax dispute

DRC Kinshasa targeted in $51m New York lawsuit

Spotlight | DRC Kinshasa on verge of winning its bet on the cobalt market

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DRC Virtus Minerals inches closer to acquisition of mining gem Chemaf

DRC Gécamines calmly takes revenge on foreign traders

DRC Gécamines tries to block Chemaf sale to Chinese firm

Related topics to this article

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | DRC
Pressured by Washington, Kinshasa sits on the fence over Chemaf sale

DRC
Kinshasa gains ground in lithium arbitration against AVZ Minerals

DRC
Glencore puts up $60m to settle tax dispute

DRC
Kinshasa targeted in $51m New York lawsuit

Spotlight | DRC
Kinshasa on verge of winning its bet on the cobalt market

Spotlight | DRC
How US firm Virtus finally broke through to acquire mining jewel Chemaf

DRC
The multi-million-dollar holes in state payroll

DRC
KoBold Metals speeds up exploration programme

DRC
Zani-Kodo gold mine operator irritates Sokimo

DRC
Buenassa still banking on Washington to build its copper and cobalt refinery

DRC
AFRICOM head to meet with Félix Tshisekedi

DRC
The outlines of Kinshasa and Washington's security rapprochement

DRC
Virtus Minerals inches closer to acquisition of mining gem Chemaf

DRC
Gécamines calmly takes revenge on foreign traders

DRC
Gécamines tries to block Chemaf sale to Chinese firm