April 9 (Reuters) - The United States has pushed for a

deal that would ensure the reopening of a major tin mine in

war-hit eastern Congo, four sources briefed on the negotiations

told Reuters.

Alphamin Resources ( AFMJF ) said in a statement

on Wednesday

it was initiating a phased resumption of operations at its

Bisie tin mine in North Kivu province while continuing to

monitor the security situation.

The fate of the mine was a point of discussion during the

recent visit to Kinshasa by U.S. President Donald Trump's senior

Africa adviser, Massad Boulos, the sources said, though

Washington's involvement goes back several weeks.

Washington and Kinshasa are also in talks about a broader

deal on critical minerals partnerships, after Congo pitched a

minerals-for-security deal to the Trump administration.

The Bisie mine produced 17,300 tons of tin last year,

representing around 6% of global mine supply.

Alphamin announced last month it would temporarily cease

operations at Bisie as Rwanda-backed M23 rebels advanced nearby,

taking the strategic town of Walikale and openly threatening the

mine.

M23 withdrew from Walikale last week, describing the move as

a goodwill gesture ahead of planned Qatar-brokered peace talks

with the government.

However, the sources told Reuters M23 made the decision

because Washington got involved directly with Congo and Rwanda.

They said Washington pressed for M23 to withdraw 150

kilometres from the mine and for Congo's army not to attack the

rebels.

The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has

provided arms and troops to the ethnic Tutsi-led M23.

Rwanda has denied backing M23 and says its military has

acted in self-defence against Congo's army and a militia founded

by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.

Boulos was expected to raise the issue with Rwandan

President Paul Kagame during his stop in Kigali on Tuesday, the

sources said.

Boulos told reporters in Kigali that Washington hoped

Alphamin would "make some announcements soon with regards to

resuming their operations".

"We definitely encourage them to resume their operations,

and we appreciate the dialogue that is ongoing," Boulos said.

Alphamin said this decision was made after the withdrawal of

insurgents towards the towns of Nyabiondo and Masisi.

(Additional reporting by Philbert Girinema in Kigali;

Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Anait Miridzhanian;

Editing by Ros Russell and Bernadette Baum)