Forced to flee Congo, USAID workers lost everything. They’re suing Trump.
USAID workers based in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, tell a harrowing story of how Trump’s attack on the agency complicated an escape.
Summary:
USAID employees stationed in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, were forced to evacuate on January 28, 2025, amid violent political demonstrations targeting the U.S. Embassy. Their situation was severely complicated by the Trump administration’s recent freeze on foreign aid spending and placement of senior USAID leaders on leave.
The evacuees, who are now suing the administration, describe a chaotic departure where they had mere hours to pack essential items, leaving behind vehicles and most possessions, including in at least one case the family dog. Many have spent thousands of dollars on emergency travel, temporary housing, and medical care without any guarantee of reimbursement.
Of significant strategic importance is the impact on U.S. mineral interests in Congo, particularly regarding cobalt. The DRC controls 60% of the world’s cobalt supply, a critical mineral essential for battery production, including those used in Apple iPhones. The current mining operation involves approximately 100,000 miners working in under-regulated conditions. USAID was actively working to establish direct mineral supply lines to the United States, aiming to reduce China’s near-monopoly on Congolese cobalt. The sudden withdrawal of USAID personnel has created a vacuum that, according to staff testimony, China is “ready to immediately jump in and take over,” potentially strengthening China’s control over this crucial technology resource.
