Civil Society Urges DRC to Fast-Track Independent Audit of Sicomines Agreement
DRC Civil Society Calls for Urgent Independent Audit of Sicomines Project to Improve Transparency and Accountability
The Congo Is Not for Sale Coalition (CNPAV) has called on President Félix Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka to accelerate the implementation of an independent technical and financial audit of the Sicomines mining project, describing it as essential to improving transparency, accountability and governance in one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest mining partnerships.
In a statement issued on 23 July, the coalition urged the government to maintain momentum on the audit announced in March 2026 by the Agency for Steering and Monitoring of Agreements (APCSC), stressing that the review is a legal requirement under Amendment No. 5 to the Sicomines Convention.
According to CNPAV, the audit also responds to recommendations made in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI-DRC) thematic report published in 2021 and reflects a long-standing demand from civil society organisations seeking greater oversight of the agreement.
The coalition said the audit should comprehensively assess both the mining and infrastructure components of the Sicomines partnership to address longstanding structural imbalances that it claims have disadvantaged the DRC.
It recommended that Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka directly oversee the process by issuing the necessary decree and appointing an independent specialist auditing firm to ensure the review remains credible and impartial.
CNPAV expressed concern that, despite more than two years having passed since the signing of Amendment No. 5, the audit has yet to be effectively implemented.
It argues that continued delays have allowed financial and operational imbalances within the agreement to persist.
The coalition estimates that shortcomings in the disbursement of infrastructure funding under the revised agreement have cost the DRC more than US$410,000 per day since the amendment was signed.
It says these losses underscore the need for a comprehensive review of the partnership’s financial and contractual arrangements.
CNPAV also welcomed the preliminary annual evaluation meeting of the Sicomines Convention held on 21 July 2026 at the Office of President Félix Tshisekedi.
The coalition said the meeting provides an opportunity for authorities to assess progress on the planned audit and remove any remaining obstacles to its implementation.
The organisation further called on the government to ensure that the audit process is conducted transparently and that its findings are made public before the end of the year. It reaffirmed its willingness to contribute technical expertise to support an independent and credible review that protects the DRC’s national interests.
The Sicomines agreement, a strategic minerals-for-infrastructure partnership between the DRC and Chinese investors, has long attracted public scrutiny over its financial structure, implementation and the distribution of economic benefits.
The planned audit is expected to play a key role in determining whether the agreement delivers greater value for the Congolese people while strengthening transparency in the country’s mining sector.
