The United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have postponed talks on cooperation in mining, trade, and mineral processing due to the growing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola outbreak is spreading at an alarming rate, particularly in Ituri Province. Cases have also been reported in North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, and Haut-Uélé provinces.
The DR Congo Ministry of Health reported that, as of July 13, 2026, a total of 2,011 people had been confirmed infected with the disease. Of those, 754 had died, while 366 had recovered.
The United States has expressed concern over the continued spread of the outbreak and has advised U.S. citizens not to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for any reason. It also announced that anyone returning from the country would be required to complete a 21-day quarantine in a third country before traveling to Washington.
In December 2025, the United States and the Democratic Republic of the Congo signed an agreement on cooperation in the mining sector. The two countries had planned to continue discussions aimed at implementing the agreement, including assessing deposits containing minerals such as cobalt and coltan, as well as identifying contractors and investors to develop them.
The talks were scheduled to take place in both Kinshasa and Washington. However, the Ebola outbreak has complicated those plans, as travelers from the DRC are required to complete a 21-day quarantine before proceeding to Washington. In addition, U.S. officials remain concerned about the risk of infection.
A diplomat told Reuters that the Ebola outbreak has delayed the implementation of the agreement, as several planned meetings have already been postponed.
The diplomat said that talks scheduled to take place in Washington in June 2026 were intended to identify U.S. companies interested in participating in the project.
U.S. investors and government officials later agreed to temporarily relocate the discussions to Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium. However, sources familiar with the matter said meetings planned for July were also postponed after several key stakeholders were unable to attend.
The U.S. Department of State said its top priority remains the health and safety of American citizens, signaling that it is unwilling to expose them to the risk of Ebola infection in pursuit of mineral cooperation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
