Contracts worth $17m were signed between Trump-linked lobbying firms and some of the world's least-developed countries, which were among the highest recipients of USAID. The DRC is primed to sign a mineral deal with the US for support against Rwanda-backed rebels, providing American companies access to lithium, cobalt and coltan. The DRC -- a former top-ten USAID recipient -- signed contracts worth $1.2m with the lobbyists Ballard Partners. The firm, owned by Brian Ballard, lobbied for Trump well before the 2016 US election and was a leading donor to the US president's political campaign. Somalia and Yemen signed contracts with BGR Government Affairs, $550,000 and $372,000, respectively. A former BGR partner, Sean Duffy, is now Trump's transport secretary, one of myriad links between the US president and the lobbying firm.