Kinshasa’s council of ministers signed a decree creating a strategic reserve of three minerals—cobalt, coltan and germanium—to give the Democratic Republic of Congo more sway over global supplies. The reserve will be managed by the Strategic Mineral Substances Market Regulation and Control Authority, which says the tool is meant to balance the market rather than speculate on price spikes. The decree, not yet public, signals a shift toward resource nationalism.

The move follows a 2023 export ban and a subsequent quota system that sent cobalt prices soaring, more than doubling since the restrictions took effect. Washington unveiled a $12bn critical‑minerals stockpile in February, signaling a broader trend of governments hoarding supplies to shield domestic industries from China‑led export curbs. Such stockpiling mirrors actions by the EU and Zimbabwe, which recently capped lithium concentrate shipments to preserve domestic value chains.

Analysts see the reserve as a way to stabilise revenues and reassure investors, who have grown wary after volatile export policies. Officials warned they could impose further bans if market distortions emerge, keeping the Congo’s leverage intact. The policy also aligns with Congo’s broader push to renegotiate mining contracts, aiming for higher royalties and greater local beneficiation. For now, the reserve adds a new layer of state control to a sector already dominated by a handful of multinational miners.