Minerals for Regime Security in the DRC

(Michelle Gavin – Council on Foreign Relations) The Trump administration has made it plain that they have little interest in supporting democratic governance around the world, arguing that internal legitimacy issues can distract from putting America first and are simply none of Washington’s business. But the United States’ eager pursuit of minerals from the politically fragile Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is being lashed to the political agenda of its current president, Felix Tshisekedi. No matter how much American officials may wish to pretend that they have nothing to do with governance choices abroad, leaders with dubious mandates wish to project something else entirely. – Minerals for Regime Security in the DRC | Council on Foreign Relations