DRC and Saudi Arabia Strengthen Strategic Mining Partnership at Future Minerals Forum
Future Minerals Forum 2026: DRC and Saudi Arabia Advance Mining Cooperation with Operational Roadmap
On the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum, held in Riyadh from 13 to 15 January 2026, H.E. Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), held a bilateral meeting with his Saudi counterpart, H.E. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The meeting reaffirmed the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation between the DRC and Saudi Arabia in the mining sector and underscored the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen and deepen this partnership.
Discussions centered on the effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2024, with particular emphasis on the establishment of a clear and structured timetable to define an operational roadmap capable of translating commitments into concrete actions.
Minister Louis Watum Kabamba emphasized the need to move decisively from dialogue to action in order to deliver tangible economic outcomes. He highlighted priorities such as industrialization, local value creation, and the attraction of strategic investments as key pillars of this cooperation.
The Congolese delegation included the Senior Advisor to the Head of State for the Mines Cluster, as well as senior officials from agencies and entities under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines.
At the conclusion of the discussions, both parties agreed on the swift establishment of a joint technical mechanism tasked with defining priorities, clarifying responsibilities, and setting a detailed timetable for the implementation of the MoU.
This mechanism is expected to serve as a practical framework for accelerating bilateral cooperation and ensuring measurable progress in the mining sector.
