Donald Trump has been offered a minerals-for-security deal by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), providing access to materials needed by America’s tech industry in return for help to defeat M23 rebels.

Felix Tshisekedi, the DRC president, proposed the US leader gain access to cobalt, lithium, copper and tantalum for a “formal security pact” to help defeat the Rwandan-backed militia.

He told Fox News that a partnership would allow the DRC to extract and process its critical minerals to benefit US companies, while also building up the African country’s defences.

Mr Tshisekedi said: “I think that the US is able to use either pressure or sanctions to make sure that armed groups who are in the DRC can be kept at bay.”

M23 fighters have captured significant parts of the mineral-rich eastern DRC in recent months, including the cities of Goma and Bukavu.