DRC Calls for “Gold Kimberley Process” to Curb Illicit Mineral Trade in Conflict Zones
DRC Urges UN to Establish Global “Kimberley Process” for Gold to Stop Funding of Armed Groups
Speaking before the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Zénon Mukongo Ngay, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the UN, called for the creation of a global certification mechanism—similar to the Kimberley Process for diamonds—to regulate the trade of gold and minerals from conflict zones.
“My government reiterates its request for the establishment of a mechanism similar to the Kimberley Process to manage gold from conflict zones, in order to end the parallel economy that fuels violence,” said Ambassador Mukongo Ngay.
He affirmed that the DRC government fully supports the recommendations of the Khartoum Workshop on Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region, held on September 2, 2021, and is ready to engage actively in discussions to make such a mechanism a reality.
Conflict Minerals: A Persistent Source of Instability
The DRC’s vast mineral wealth—particularly in gold and 3T minerals (tin, tantalum, and tungsten)—continues to attract illicit trade networks that fund armed groups across the Great Lakes region. Numerous UN reports have documented the scale and sophistication of this shadow economy.
A June 2025 report by the UN Group of Experts detailed systematic looting by the AFC/M23 armed coalition, which has targeted mineral exporters since January 2025:
“AFC/M23 forces looted over 500 tonnes of marked and unmarked 3T minerals, forcibly removing traceability markings and breaking into sealed containers,” the report stated.
“In Nyabibwe, South Kivu, the group stole 186 tonnes of unmarked minerals, smuggling them into Rwanda through the port of Mukwija in Kalehe territory.”
Similarly, a December 2024 UN report revealed that illegal gold mining in Ituri Province remains largely outside government control, generating over $140 million annually for armed groups and criminal networks.
The same report noted that the capture of Rubaya—a strategic mining town in Masisi Territory—by M23 and Rwandan forces since April 2024 has facilitated the illegal extraction and export of minerals to Rwanda, enriching both the AFC-M23 coalition and the Rwandan economy.
A Call for Global Accountability
According to the DRC government, implementing a certification system modeled after the Kimberley Process would allow for traceable marking of minerals, particularly gold, from conflict zones—effectively preventing their entry into international markets.
Established in 2003, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was designed to eliminate the global trade in “conflict diamonds”—gems that financed wars and insurgencies.
It mandates member states to enforce strict export and import controls, ensuring that all internationally traded diamonds are conflict-free and fully traceable.
“Applying a similar framework to gold and other minerals is essential to disrupt the financial lifelines of armed groups,” Ambassador Mukongo Ngay emphasized. “Only through collective international commitment can we restore peace, stability, and legitimate trade in the Great Lakes region.”
Toward a Peaceful and Transparent Mineral Economy
The DRC’s proposal has reignited global discussions on expanding conflict-mineral certification systems beyond diamonds. Analysts note that with gold and 3T minerals increasingly funding armed conflicts, a “Gold Kimberley Process” could play a pivotal role in breaking the link between resource wealth and violence—a step critical to achieving sustainable peace and economic justice in Central Africa.
