US Investment Won’t Displace DRC Mining Partners
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mining Registry (CAMI), Crispin Mbindule Mitono, has reassured the public that the arrival of American investors in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector will not result in the country’s resources being sold off or in the replacement of existing partners.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Mbindule dismissed rumors suggesting that the Congolese government intends to reserve the mining sector exclusively for American companies.
“The contract we signed does not mean we are offering mining areas to the Americans for free,” he explained. “Their companies follow the established procedures, respect the mining code and regulations, and have formally presented themselves to the Mining Registry — the gateway to the mining sector in the DRC. They have paid the necessary filing fees and are preparing to pay surface rights on a pro-rata basis.”
Mbindule emphasized that American companies are applying for mining titles through CAMI just like any other operator. Their arrival, he stressed, poses no threat to Chinese investors or those from other countries.
While acknowledging that some unfair mining contracts exist in the DRC, he clarified that these issues do not involve the new American partners.
The CAMI chief also highlighted recent achievements in the mining cadastre. Between 2024 and 2025, the registry enabled the Congolese state to regain control of 6,733 mining squares across 167 titles.
He attributed these results to “hard work” focused on strengthening mining sovereignty and promoting transparency in the management of the country’s natural resources.
