Daniel van Dalen

Senior analyst (country and political risk), Signal Risk

Daniel van Dalen is a senior analyst (country and political risk) at Signal Risk, a South Africa-based risk analysis firm providing in-depth analysis on major political, security and economic developments across the African continent.

Congolese cheer ahead of Pope Francis's arrival at Martyrs' Stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on 2 February 2023. The competition between China and the US in the DRC is intensifying. (Tiziana Fabi/AFP)
Economy

Is the US subverting China's influence in the DRC?

By Daniel van Dalen , By Ronak Gopaldas 01 Mar 2023
In the battle for resources in the clean energy race, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stands as a critical piece of the puzzle, holding access to key metals such as cobalt, lithium, copper and coltan. While China has been an early dominant investor, the US is upping the stakes and seeking to throw the competition wide open.