CAMI Chief Urges Cross-Border Geological Collaboration
In response to the lack of coordination among African nations regarding geological data, Popol Mabolia Yenga, Director General of the Mining Cadastre (CAMI) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has called for a regional research initiative aimed at preventing disputes over the origin of mineral resources.
Speaking during the panel discussion “Roadmap for the Mining Industry: Shaping the Future of Mining in the DRC,” held as part of DRC Mining Week 2025 in Lubumbashi, Mabolia emphasized the shortcomings of the current nation-by-nation approach to mapping Africa’s subsoil.
“We face a situation where countries, including the DRC and several of our neighbors, lack comprehensive and harmonized geological information,” he noted.
“Some nations claim certain minerals originate from their territory, but in many cases, they do not. This inconsistency creates confusion.”
According to Mabolia, the absence of a coordinated geological framework across borders hinders the creation of reliable databases and contributes to disputes over the true source of natural resources.
To address this, he suggests that the African Union or relevant regional bodies lead a cross-border geological research program, with a particular focus on airborne geophysical surveys.
“Airborne geophysics requires aircraft to fly across wide areas,” he explained. “When we conducted surveys in North Ubangi, for example, we had to stop at the border.
It would be far more effective to include adjacent regions in neighboring countries within the same survey zone.”
Mabolia argues that such regional collaboration would not only clarify the continent’s real mining potential but also help reduce interstate tensions over mineral ownership.
A harmonized and accessible geological database could attract more foreign investment, boost transparency in the sector, and strengthen efforts to combat the illicit mineral trade.
His appeal reflects a broader push for collaborative mining governance across Africa, especially as the global energy transition increasingly highlights the strategic importance of African mineral resources.
