IMO
The minerals for security deal will go ahead because if there's 1 thing a corrupt regime fears more than an empty paper bag its a violent uprising.
The M4S deal will not go ahead without a solution in sight for Manono:
1. Because USA knows they need the lithium
2. Because the USA can only get involved in DRC if its made clear that things are going to be above board. - By definition - this agreement cannot decide to just conveniently overlook a project theyre being iced out of due to corruption.
DRC will go down kicking and screaming but their options are:
1. Piss off the Americans for the sake of a few extra paper bags from China, get no value from Roche Dure or any downstream processing, and decided that the armed rebellion in the east isn't that big of a threat,
2. Kick-off a new development boom with USA that could dwarf China's paperbags, secure their positions against rebels, and (God forbid...) develop the Manono project into a project that can lift '000s of people out of poverty
There is a win-win deal for everyone (even
zijin
) as long as people aren't to arrogant/dumb to take it
The minerals for security deal will go ahead because if there's 1 thing a corrupt regime fears more than an empty paper bag its a violent uprising.
The M4S deal will not go ahead without a solution in sight for Manono:
1. Because USA knows they need the lithium
2. Because the USA can only get involved in DRC if its made clear that things are going to be above board. - By definition - this agreement cannot decide to just conveniently overlook a project theyre being iced out of due to corruption.
DRC will go down kicking and screaming but their options are:
1. Piss off the Americans for the sake of a few extra paper bags from China, get no value from Roche Dure or any downstream processing, and decided that the armed rebellion in the east isn't that big of a threat,
2. Kick-off a new development boom with USA that could dwarf China's paperbags, secure their positions against rebels, and (God forbid...) develop the Manono project into a project that can lift '000s of people out of poverty
There is a win-win deal for everyone (even

