Sheikh Tamim and DR Congo’s Tshisekedi witnessed the signing of numerous MoU’s and agreements in Kinshasa.

Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday in the Democratic Republic of the Congo coinciding with the state visit of Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The agreement sets a framework to support Ivanhoe’s efforts to jointly identify, develop and sustainably supply critical minerals central to the global energy transition and advanced technologies.

The MoU followed QIA’s $500m (around QAR 1.82bn) strategic investment in Ivanhoe Mines that was announced on September 29.

QIA CEO Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi described in a statement the MoU as a testament of the Qatari sovereign wealth fund’s “commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading suppliers of critical minerals”.

“We are delighted to be working with Ivanhoe Mines and look forward to further growing our partnership, aimed at generating long-term, sustainable prosperity,” he added.

Sheikh Tamim’s first DR Congo visit

Sheikh Tamim had landed in DR Congo on Friday for a state visit following a stopover in Rwanda. The Qatari leader met Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and other officials in the capital, Kinshasa.

The two leaders held official talks over the enhancement of Doha and Kinshasa’s bilateral relations, with Tshisekedi hailing Qatar’s role in mediating last week’s framework agreement between DR Congo and the M23 movement.

The agreement aimed at ending decades of fighting in the eastern DR Congo, which saw M23 seize major territories including Goma, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

The United States, the United Nations and DR Congo have long accused the M23 of being backed by Rwanda—claims that Kigali repeatedly denied.

In March, Sheikh Tamim hosted a meeting at Lusail Palace bringing together Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame in an effort to ease tensions and support dialogue.

Key MoU’s, agreements signed

Sheikh Tamim and Tshisekedi witnessed the signing of numerous MoU’s and agreements in Kinshasa.

One MoU involved cooperation in the field of ports between Mwani Qatar and DR Congo’s National Transport Office “ONATRA S.A.” and another covered cooperation in legal fields between both countries’ justice ministries. 

A third MoU was signed between the Qatar Fund for Development and DR Congo’s Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action, and National Solidarity to support a multi-sector emergency response project in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tshopo.

A fourth MoU involved cooperation in the fields of youth and sports between both countries, whereas a fifth entailed the holding of political consultations on issues of mutual interest.

One agreement also entailed the mutual exemption from entry visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports.