President Tshisekedi Orders Crackdown on Illegal Mining and Calls for Stronger Governance in DRC’s Mining Sector
DRC President Tshisekedi Demands Tough Action Against Illegal Mining and Strengthening of Mining Sector Governance
During the 87th meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, April 24, 2026, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, reaffirmed the urgent need to strengthen governance in the mining sector, combat mining fraud, and put an end to the illegal exploitation of the country’s natural resources.
The Head of State expressed concern over reports indicating a rise in uncontrolled and illegal mining activities in several parts of the country, particularly in the territories of Aru and Mahagi in Ituri Province, as well as in Bas-Uélé and Maniema.
According to the President, these illegal operations are being conducted outside any regulatory framework and are associated with serious violations of human rights, environmental degradation, and the weakening of state authority.
Reported abuses include the desecration of graves and exhumation of human remains, destruction of agricultural land, contamination of groundwater through toxic substances, and arbitrary arrests targeting traditional leaders and whistleblowers.
Beyond these violations, President Tshisekedi also condemned the large-scale, organized exploitation of mineral resources using heavy machinery to extract gold and other strategic minerals.
He noted that these activities generate billions of dollars in revenue annually yet provide no benefit to the national treasury or local communities.
The President described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that it undermines the country’s economic sovereignty, threatens environmental sustainability, and weakens social cohesion in affected regions. He therefore called for the immediate cessation of all illegal mining activities.
President Tshisekedi welcomed ongoing efforts by the Minister of Mines, who has established a joint commission bringing together provincial authorities, mining administration officials, and defense and security forces to investigate illegal mining activities, determine responsibilities, and propose corrective measures.
He further instructed the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Interior, the Ministers of Defense, Justice, and Environment, to work closely with the Ministry of Mines to implement a coordinated and operational framework to combat illegal mining.
This framework will include the systematic seizure of equipment used in illegal mining operations, securing of affected sites, and the identification, prosecution, and strict punishment of perpetrators and their networks.
It also provides for the possible reallocation of confiscated equipment to legally operating Congolese entities that comply with national and international environmental and mining standards.
Additionally, the President instructed the Minister of Mines to urgently submit proposals aimed at strengthening the capacity of the General Inspectorate of Mines, particularly in terms of human resources, technical capabilities, and financial support, to ensure more effective regulation and oversight of the extractive sector.
