Governance - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

DRC Senate Approves Ratification of Lobito Corridor Agreement

December 15, 2024December 15, 2024 Constance

The Senate of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ratified the agreement establishing the Lobito Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (AFTTCL) during a plenary session on December 2, 2024. The agreement, signed on January 27, 2023, in Lobito, Angola, involves a partnership between the DRC, Angola, and Zambia. The bill, first presented to the Senate on November 22, 2024, was referred to the “External Relations” Committee for detailed review. The committee, led by Senator Lutundula Apala Pen Apala, recommended ratification, emphasizing the corridor’s strategic importance to the DRC’s economy and… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Economy Governance

President Tshisekedi Highlights DRC’s Economic Resilience Amid Global Challenges

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024 Constance

On Wednesday, addressing a joint session of parliament in Kinshasa, President Félix Tshisekedi outlined the Democratic Republic of Congo’s economic situation. Despite global economic shocks and geopolitical tensions, Tshisekedi emphasized that the country has demonstrated “exemplary” resilience and is adapting “successfully” to contemporary challenges, with promising signs of economic stability. “We are forecasting 6% growth this year, well above the 3.8% average expected for sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a slight slowdown, this result showcases our resilience to global and local challenges, providing a foundation for a more diversified, sustainable, and forward-looking… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Angola Governance Mining in DRC Transport and Logistics

US President Joe Biden Announces $560 Million Funding for Lobito Trans-African Corridor

December 6, 2024December 6, 2024 Constance

On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, US President Joe Biden unveiled more than $560 million in funding for the Lobito Trans-African Corridor, during a meeting in Lobito with Angolan President João Lourenço, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, and the Vice President of Tanzania. The project, designed to connect the mining basins of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the port of Lobito, is crucial for transporting key natural resources such as copper and cobalt. President Biden emphasized that the Lobito Corridor represents a transformative opportunity… Read More Here

International Governance

Biden’s First Visit to Angola to Strengthen U.S. Ties with Sub-Saharan Africa

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 Constance

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden is making a historic visit to Angola, fulfilling a pledge to strengthen U.S. ties with sub-Saharan Africa as competition with China intensifies. Biden, the first U.S. president to visit Angola since its independence in 1975, will spend three days in Luanda, from Monday to Wednesday, discussing economic, political, and cultural partnerships. The visit honors a promise Biden made in 2022 to engage more closely with Africa. Originally scheduled for October, the trip was delayed due to Hurricane Milton’s landfall in Florida. Despite his “lame-duck” status,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Governance

President Tshisekedi Opens 11th Governors’ Conference in Kalemie

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 Constance

President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo presided over the 11th Governors’ Conference on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in Kalemie, Tanganyika Province. This annual event serves as a platform for dialogue between provincial governors and the national executive. Spanning three days, from November 27 to 29, the conference gathers governors elected during the December 2023 electoral process. They will engage with experts and senior officials with extensive experience at the national level to exchange knowledge and insights. This year’s discussions center on the Local Development Program of the 145 Territories (PDL 145-T) under… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Governance Infrastructural Development Transport and Logistics

DRC Plans Strategic Partnership with China to Advance Transport and Infrastructure Projects

November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is strengthening its collaboration with China to accelerate development in key sectors, including transport. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Communication Routes, and Disenclavement, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, emphasized this partnership during a Council of Ministers meeting on November 22, 2024. Bemba presented an information note detailing efforts to prepare a comprehensive list of projects to be submitted to Chinese financial institutions as part of the Sino-Congolese cooperation framework. According to the minutes of the Council of Ministers, the finalized project lists were discussed… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Governance

DRC Minister of Mines & Jean-Jacques Purusi Take Action Against Foreign Involvement in Mining Sites

November 24, 2024November 24, 2024 Constance

The presence of foreigners in Congolese mines took center stage during a strategic meeting on November 19, which brought together the Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, and South Kivu’s governor, Jean-Jacques Purusi. The discussions focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities in this resource-rich region while emphasizing the enforcement of Congolese mining laws. Both officials underscored the necessity of a robust legal framework to ensure that natural resource exploitation adheres to established regulations. Their joint efforts aim to curb illegal activities and strengthen compliance with the country’s mining code. Separately,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Economy Governance

Minister Bussa and ARSP Director Sign MOU to Boost State Portfolio Cooperation

November 17, 2024November 17, 2024 Constance

Jean-Lucien Bussa, Minister of Portfolio, and Miguel Kashal Katemb, Director General of the Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, aimed at fostering inter-company cooperation. The agreement follows a proposal made by the Minister of Portfolio to the Council of Ministers on July 19, 2024. The signing ceremony took place in the Minister of Portfolio’s Cabinet meeting room, with experts from both parties in attendance. The MOU facilitates collaboration and mutual support between companies in the state… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Events & Expos Governance

DRC Prime Minister Highlights War Impact on Biodiversity at COP29

November 17, 2024November 17, 2024 Constance

Judith Suminwa, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raised significant concerns about the threats facing her country’s biodiversity during a speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday. She attributed the dangers to the ongoing conflict in the eastern DRC, which she blamed on Rwanda. “My country’s biodiversity is in peril due to the war unjustly imposed by Rwanda,” Suminwa stated. “This crisis forces us to divert a substantial portion of our budget towards military efforts and the protection of our… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Governance

DRC Advances Local Content Law with New Subcontracting Guide

November 12, 2024November 12, 2024 Constance

The recent signing of the Sectoral Guide on Subcontracting marks a major step forward in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s efforts to implement the Local Content Law, which is currently in development. This new guide aims to streamline the application of legal texts governing subcontracting across key sectors of the national economy. After months of collaborative work between the Agence de Régulation de la Sous-Traitance dans le Secteur Privé (ARSP) and the Federation of Congolese Enterprises (FEC), representatives from both organizations officially signed the validation report of the subcontracting sectoral… Read More Here