DRC Suspends SAEMAPE Chief as Govt Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Artisanal Mining
DRC Removes Artisanal Mining Agency Head Amid Drive to Curb Illegal Copper and Cobalt Operations
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has suspended the head of its state agency responsible for overseeing artisanal and small-scale mining, underscoring the government’s determination to tackle illegal mining activities within industrial concessions operated by major international mining companies.
Mines Minister Louis Watum ordered the suspension of Jean-Paul Kapongo Kadiobo, Director General of the Service for Assistance and Supervision of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE), citing alleged failures to prevent unauthorized artisanal mining on licensed mining properties, particularly in the copper- and cobalt-rich provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga.
According to government documents, the suspension took immediate effect and follows growing concerns over the expansion of illegal mining operations within concessions legally held by industrial mining companies.
Authorities also accused Kapongo of improperly establishing SAEMAPE revenue-collection services inside concession areas where artisanal mining activities were not authorized.
The move comes amid a broader government campaign to restore order in the country’s mining sector.
Earlier in October, authorities detained approximately 300 Chinese nationals in the copper belt region around Kolwezi as part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal mining activities.
As the world’s largest producer of cobalt and second-largest producer of copper, the DRC faces increasing pressure to balance foreign investment interests with the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of artisanal miners who depend on small-scale mining for income.
Rising copper and cobalt prices have encouraged a resurgence of informal mining, often leading miners to operate inside industrial concessions and heightening tensions with licensed operators.
Companies such as CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining remain among the major industrial producers active in the country.
Government officials have expressed concerns that unauthorized mining activities undermine investor confidence, create security challenges and result in the loss of state revenue.
To strengthen oversight, Kinshasa has deployed a multi-agency commission to the Kolwezi region with a mandate to remove unauthorized actors from mining sites, inspect processing facilities and relocate artisanal miners to designated mining zones.
Authorities have also moved to improve transparency in mineral trading through the reopening of key trading centres and the implementation of stricter monitoring measures.
The suspension of SAEMAPE’s leadership signals a tougher regulatory approach as the government seeks to formalize artisanal mining, protect licensed concessions and attract long-term investment into one of the world’s most strategically important mineral-producing nations.
