Officials from the Government of Burundi and representatives of U.S. mining companies signed a cooperation agreement Tuesday at the United States Department of State in Washington, marking what both sides described as a step toward strengthening investment and collaboration in Burundi’s mining sector.
According to a statement shared by the Embassy of Burundi in the United States, the signing ceremony was presided over by Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs. The agreement involved Burundi’s Ministry of Mineral Resources and two American companies, Lifezone Metals and KoBold Metals.
Burundi’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Energy, Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hassan Kibeya, signed on behalf of the government, while Chris Showalter, Chief Executive Officer of Lifezone Metals, represented the company alongside its legal director.
“The ceremony marked an important step in strengthening cooperation between Burundi and American mining companies,” the embassy said in a statement describing the event.
Focus on critical minerals
The agreement is linked to the potential development of Burundi’s mineral resources, including nickel deposits at the Musongati nickel project in southeastern Burundi. Earlier on Tuesday, Lifezone Metals announced it had signed an exclusivity agreement with the Burundian government related to the Musongati project, which lies within the East African Nickel Belt and contains significant laterite nickel resources.
The signing ceremony took place at the U.S. State Department and brought together officials from both governments. According to company statements, the project aims to unlock one of the region’s major nickel deposits and could play a role in global supply chains for battery metals used in electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
During the event, Troutman said cooperation with African partners on mineral resources is part of a broader effort to strengthen global supply chains for critical minerals.
“Securing resilient and transparent critical mineral supply chains is a national security priority for the United States, and Africa — particularly partners like Burundi — play a vital role in this effort,” Troutman said. “Lifezone’s progress with the Musongati nickel project represents a cornerstone investment in the U.S.–Burundi relationship.”
The Burundian delegation accompanying Minister Kibeya included Festus Bimenyimana, head of strategic studies at the ministry, and Burundi’s ambassador to the United States, Bosco Barege.
U.S. officials present included Special Advisor Christopher Kulukundis and Brenda Soya from the Bureau of African Affairs.
Burundi, one of East Africa’s smaller mining producers, has sought greater foreign investment to develop untapped mineral resources including nickel, rare earth elements, and other metals used in modern technologies. The Musongati deposit alone has been estimated to contain more than 140 million tons of nickel-bearing laterite ore.
