THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the United States have entered into talks over access to the rich mineral resources in the African country in return for security support, it was reported today.

The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the DRC are putting their vast supplies of uranium, copper and cobalt on the table in a bid to shore up support for President Felix Tshisekedi as he struggles to hold back the surge of the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.

A letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from the Congolese last month proposed that the DRC gives US companies extraction rights over mining projects in the country. The two nations would also collaborate on developing a strategic stockpile of minerals.