DRC Govt Launches Crackdown on Mining Fraud and Illegal Mineral Exploitation

DRC Intensifies Fight Against Illegal Mining: Tshisekedi Orders Crackdown on Fraud Networks in Key Sector

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has announced a series of “coercive” measures aimed at tackling mining fraud and the illegal exploitation of minerals activities that continue to cost the country substantial revenue.

The decision followed a high-level meeting on April 30 chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, alongside key cabinet members.

The initiative comes in response to directives issued by President Félix Tshisekedi during the 87th Council of Ministers meeting, where he called for stricter oversight and improved governance in the mining sector.

Attendees included Minister of State for Justice Guillaume Ngefa, Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba, and Minister of Environment Marie Nyange. Discussions centered on strengthening field-level monitoring and improving coordination among government agencies involved in mining oversight.

Following the meeting, Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba described the situation as increasingly alarming.

He noted that mining fraud extends beyond financial losses, highlighting its broader consequences, including environmental degradation and damage to cultural heritage such as the reported desecration of graves in areas affected by illegal mining.

The government has committed to taking immediate legal action against individuals involved in mining fraud networks.

Authorities stated that investigations will target a wide range of actors, including officials in provincial administrations, mining services, as well as members of the police and military suspected of facilitating illegal activities.

In addition to enforcement, the government plans to introduce stricter operational controls to better regulate the extraction, transport, and commercialization of minerals.

Structural reforms are also being considered to ensure long-term improvements in transparency and accountability across the sector.

Officials emphasized that the era of illicit mining operations allegedly protected by uniformed personnel is coming to an end.

The new measures are intended not only to punish wrongdoing but also to dismantle entrenched networks that have enabled fraud for years.

Through this intensified crackdown, the government aims to curb economic losses and restore order to a sector that remains a cornerstone of the Congolese economy.