Category: Artisanal mining

DRC Artisanal Mining Faces Financing Hurdle as Government Pushes Mechanisation The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking to modernise its artisanal mining sector, but limited access to finance, inadequate mining zones and unreliable power supply continue to hinder efforts to transition operators towards more mechanised and productive small-scale mining. Artisanal mining remains a major source of income for millions of Congolese and contributes to the supply of strategic minerals. However, much of the sector still relies on manual methods and rudimentary equipment, limiting productivity, worker safety and effective mineral… Read More Here

DRC Says FDLR Issue Has Been Used to Justify Mineral Exploitation as Disarmament Process Advances The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has accused Rwanda of using the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) as a pretext for continued intervention in eastern DRC and the illicit exploitation of the country’s mineral resources. Speaking during a special government briefing in Kinshasa on July 28, DRC Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya argued that the FDLR issue has been repeatedly invoked to justify actions that,… Read More Here

DRC Launches First Pilot Artisanal Mining Zone to Formalize Mining and Improve Mineral Traceability The Democratic Republic of Congo has launched its first pilot Artisanal Mining Zone (AZE), marking a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to formalize and professionalize the country’s artisanal mining sector. The initiative is part of the government’s broader mining reform agenda, implemented under the leadership of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, with the Ministry of Mines spearheading efforts to improve governance, enhance mineral traceability, and create safer working conditions… Read More Here

Democratic Republic of Congo to Train 20,000 Armed Guards to Secure Mines and Improve Mineral Traceability The Democratic Republic of Congo is in discussions with a private company to train more than 20,000-armed guards dedicated to securing mining sites across the country, in a major initiative aimed at improving oversight, reducing illegal extraction, and strengthening the reputation of its mining industry. According to the head of the General Inspectorate of Mines, the proposed force will be responsible for protecting large-scale industrial mining operations, supporting the formalisation of artisanal mining activities,… Read More Here

DRC Introduces New Insurance and Universal Health Coverage Program for Artisanal Miners The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has launched a new social protection programme for artisanal mining operators organised in cooperatives, marking a major step toward improving welfare and safety standards in the country’s informal mining sector. The initiative was introduced by Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba through Ministerial Decree No. 00278/CAB.MIN/MINES/01/2026, which establishes and regulates a new insurance scheme known as “Group Protection,” alongside universal health coverage for artisanal miners. The reform is designed to strengthen social… Read More Here