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Armed Groups Seize Congo Cobalt Mining Operations

A major cobalt producer in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported that armed intruders have seized control of a significant portion of its mining deposit and are extracting the material at industrial volumes. The takeover highlights growing security challenges facing the country's critical minerals sector. Congo's state-owned cobalt purchasing authority is pursuing partnerships with industrial mining operators to curtail unauthorized extraction on their concessions. A U.S. company aspiring to build the country's first large-scale cobalt processing facility has announced a supply agreement with Congolese producers. The security situation threatens Congo's position as a leading cobalt supplier and complicates efforts to formalize the supply chain.