AGP Executive Report

Cross-Border Deal Push: Uganda and DR Congo signed six new bilateral MoUs in Kampala covering trade, security, diplomacy and tourism, as both sides also move to deepen cooperation under Operation Shujaa against ADF in eastern DR Congo. Energy Pivot: The two countries also launched joint oil exploration in the Albertine Graben, a major step as Uganda ramps Tilenga/Kingfisher and DR Congo seeks its own Lake Albert development. Security-First China Angle: A new look at China’s “two-faced” Central Africa approach flags Beijing’s shift from mostly economic ties toward deeper security and asset-protection links that could further complicate the M23-Rwanda-DRC standoff. Eastern Congo Pressure: Fresh fighting between Wazalendo and M23 in South Kivu’s Ruzizi plain adds to a week of grim headlines, while Amnesty renews scrutiny of ADF atrocities. Mining Power & Food Stress: DR Congo is lining up a stake in a $270M Zambia power link to feed mining demand, even as hunger warnings and export-finance support for cacao/coffee highlight how quickly instability hits livelihoods.

M23-Linked Minerals Push: The Economist reports M23 is trying to sell rare earths and “3T” metals to the Trump administration, staging tightly controlled meetings and pitching a deal—an effort that signals how far the group’s influence has spread in eastern Congo. Eastern Congo Fighting: New clashes in South Kivu’s Ruzizi plain put Wazalendo militiamen and M23 back in the spotlight, with reports of heavy militia losses and M23 retaining control of Kigurwe after fighting. Constitutional Showdown: Tshisekedi says any constitutional change must go to a referendum, while opponents warn he’s edging toward a breach of the constitution’s limits on presidential term changes. Humanitarian Pressure: The EU calls conditions in eastern DRC “catastrophic,” citing aid corridor progress but warning only a political solution can end the conflict. Mining & Power Moves: Kinshasa is set to take an equity stake in a $270M Zambia power line to feed Congo’s mining expansion. Food Crisis: Hunger is worsening in Kinshasa as conflict and weak economics squeeze supplies.

M23–US minerals push: The Economist reports M23 is trying to sell rare earths and “3T” metals to Washington, staging a tightly controlled, almost corporate-style pitch inside its territory—while hinting the Trump administration may be moving closer to M23’s side even as the US has already signed a Congo “strategic partnership.” Eastern Congo fighting: In South Kivu’s Ruzizi plain, fresh clashes between Wazalendo militias and M23 around Kigurwe left more than a dozen Wazalendo fighters dead, with control of the town still disputed on the ground. Kinshasa political line: Tshisekedi says constitutional change would require a referendum, but opposition warns he’s edging toward a breach—while he also warns 2028 elections may not happen if the war in the east persists. Humanitarian pressure: The EU calls conditions in eastern DRC “catastrophic,” pushing aid corridors and talks, but stressing only a political solution can end the conflict. Mining & power: Kinshasa is set to take an equity stake in a $270M Zambia–DRC power line to feed mining growth and cut reliance on diesel. Food crisis: Hunger is tightening in Kinshasa and beyond as conflict and prices bite.

Over the last 12 hours, the dominant thread in DRC-focused coverage is economic and infrastructure support aimed at tightening the link between Congo’s resources and export earnings. The DRC secured a UK-backed US$25 million financing mechanism (implemented via Rawbank) to expand credit for cacao, coffee, rice, cassava, corn, and palm oil producers—explicitly designed to reduce lending risk and help farmers invest in orchard rehabilitation and post-harvest processing. In parallel, the country’s mining-energy bottleneck is reflected in plans to take an equity stake in a US$270 million cross-border power line to Zambia (detailed in the broader 24–72 hour coverage, but consistent with the current push for capacity). The same period also includes sector-level policy attention: GSMA Africa’s Policy Group urged governments to treat telecommunications as a core economic pillar and pursue tax reforms to accelerate digital inclusion, with the remarks delivered in Kinshasa.

Transport and humanitarian access also feature in the most recent coverage. Air Congo is preparing a long-haul debut with plans for nonstop service between Kinshasa and Brussels starting July 1 (subject to government approval), positioning Belgium as a natural first intercontinental destination. Meanwhile, EU reporting following Commissioner Hadja Lahbib’s mission describes eastern DRC conditions as “catastrophic,” citing mass displacement, violence, and restricted aid access—while also noting EU efforts such as humanitarian corridors, increased aid funding, and discussions around reopening Goma airport for humanitarian operations.

Across the broader 7-day window, the coverage shows continuity in how conflict, governance, and resource policy are being treated as intertwined. Multiple articles focus on the eastern crisis and its downstream effects: a severe hunger crisis in Kinshasa is attributed to climate shocks, conflict in the east, and a weak economy; and in Goma, households are turning to biogas as charcoal prices rise after M23’s control of Goma and related restrictions. On the governance side, President Tshisekedi ordered a 30-day audit of copper and cobalt export revenues and state assets, aiming to create a “single traceable chain” across port agencies, the central bank, and commercial institutions to close loopholes.

Finally, the week’s political and sanctions-related reporting underscores rising external pressure around eastern DRC and minerals. Coverage includes pro-government marches in Kinshasa supporting US sanctions against Joseph Kabila, alongside Kabila’s rebuttals calling the sanctions “politically motivated.” Background pieces also frame the US push as part of a wider contest over strategic raw materials, while other reporting highlights ongoing efforts to reshape mineral governance (e.g., cobalt export quotas forcing producers to adjust output strategies). Taken together, the evidence suggests a sustained focus on both resource monetization (credit, audits, power links) and external leverage (sanctions and diplomatic engagement), with the most recent items emphasizing implementation and near-term economic activity rather than a single new turning point.

In the last 12 hours, coverage in DRC Industry Today centers on how the country is trying to strengthen its economic and infrastructure base while also coping with acute humanitarian and conflict-linked pressures. GSMA Africa’s Policy Group chairperson Daddy Mukadi urged African governments to treat telecommunications as a “core economic pillar” and to implement tax reforms to accelerate digital inclusion, with the call made during a posts and telecommunications sector assembly in Kinshasa. Separately, Air Congo announced plans for its first intercontinental long-haul service—nonstop Kinshasa–Brussels starting July 1 (subject to approval)—framing it as a step beyond its domestic operations. On the social side, reporting highlights severe hunger in Kinshasa, with a food bank saying it can meet only a fraction of capital needs amid conflict in the east, a weak economy, and climate pressures.

Energy access and affordability also feature prominently in the most recent reporting. In Goma, local households are turning to biogas as a cheaper alternative to electricity and charcoal, with the article linking higher charcoal prices to the M23’s control of Goma and its ban on logging in Virunga National Park. The biogas coverage is presented as both a household coping strategy (reducing toxic fumes and power-cut concerns) and an environmental/energy shift in an area where many residents cannot afford grid power.

From 12 to 24 hours ago, the dominant theme is mining-region power constraints and cross-border energy planning. Multiple articles say DR Congo is moving to secure an equity stake in a $270 million Zambia–DR Congo power link, developed by Enterprise Power DRC and its Zambian subsidiary. The line is described as 200 km high-voltage with initial capacity of 460 MW (expandable to 550 MW), running from Kalumbila to Kolwezi, and the rationale is explicit: electricity demand in the mining region is rising faster than supply, pushing operators toward diesel and self-funded backup systems. This is tied to a broader industrial policy push—studies cited by the finance ministry argue that adding 1 GW could double mine production, supporting a shift toward more local processing rather than exporting lightly processed minerals.

Looking further back (24 hours to 7 days), the news shows continuity in how DRC’s resource strategy intersects with geopolitics and governance. EU reporting describes “catastrophic” conditions in eastern DRC and emphasizes humanitarian corridors and diplomacy alongside aid. Meanwhile, several pieces focus on U.S. sanctions and political fallout: thousands marched in Kinshasa supporting U.S. sanctions against Joseph Kabila, while Kabila rejected the measures as “unjustified and politically motivated.” In parallel, older mining-policy coverage includes cobalt export quota impacts (forcing producers to pivot or pause) and a presidential order for a 30-day audit of copper and cobalt export revenues—both reinforcing the picture of Kinshasa tightening control and trying to capture more value from critical minerals.

In the past 12 hours, coverage focused on how DRC’s energy and humanitarian pressures intersect with the country’s mining-driven economy. A report from Goma highlights households switching from charcoal to biogas to cut cooking costs amid higher charcoal prices after fighting and the M23 takeover of the city. Separately, DRC’s finance ministry says Kinshasa is moving to secure an equity stake in a planned $270 million, 200-kilometer high-voltage power link between Zambia (Kalumbila) and the DRC copper hub (Kolwezi). The ministry frames the stake as a response to rising electricity demand in the mining region, where operators increasingly rely on diesel and self-funded backup systems; it also ties the move to a broader infrastructure push following DRC’s $1.25 billion eurobond.

The same 12-hour cluster also underscores that the power-link effort is still in motion rather than fully underway: the line’s initial capacity is described as 460 MW (expandable to 550 MW), but a construction start date is not yet confirmed. This suggests a near-term policy and financing step—securing influence through an equity stake—while implementation timelines remain uncertain. Taken together with the biogas story, the coverage paints a picture of DRC facing both household-level energy affordability constraints and industrial energy bottlenecks that affect mining output and processing ambitions.

Beyond energy, the most recent material also connects to the wider conflict and governance environment shaping economic decisions. An EU update following Commissioner Hadja Lahbib’s mission describes “catastrophic” conditions in eastern DRC, including mass displacement, violence, and restricted aid access, alongside efforts to expand humanitarian corridors and reopen Goma airport for humanitarian operations. While not directly tied to the power-line equity stake, it provides context for why infrastructure, logistics, and security remain central constraints for both humanitarian response and economic projects in the east.

Over the broader 7-day window, several themes reinforce continuity: DRC’s push to capture more value from critical minerals (including cobalt export quota impacts and a 30-day audit order of copper and cobalt export revenues), and the intensifying political and diplomatic contest around minerals and conflict. Multiple articles report U.S. sanctions targeting former President Joseph Kabila, with pro-government marches supporting the sanctions and Kabila rejecting them as “politically motivated,” while other coverage links U.S. moves to a wider “minerals-for-security” approach. Taken together, the week’s coverage suggests DRC is simultaneously trying to stabilize and monetize its mineral base—through audits, quotas, and energy infrastructure—while navigating escalating external pressure and persistent insecurity in the east.