Congo creates a paramilitary mining guard backed by US and UAE funding

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo on Monday announced the creation of a paramilitary guard to secure its vast mining operations, backed by U.S. and Emirati investments, as Washington tries to lock in access to critical minerals amid a fragile peace process in the troubled east. The central African country’s General Inspectorate of Mines said in a statement the new unit would be deployed gradually, with an initial 2,500 to 3,000 personnel expected to be operational by December following six months of training in military collaboration.