DRC Govt Moves to Strengthen Gold Sector Governance and Combat Smuggling
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Launches Reforms to Improve Gold Traceability, Boost Revenue, and Fight Illegal Trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Judith Suminwa Tuluka, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the national strategy for monitoring and securing the flow of gold across the country. She made these remarks during the Council of Ministers meeting held on Friday, April 3, 2026.
This initiative follows concerns previously raised by the President of the Republic during the 79th Council of Ministers meeting on February 20, 2026.
Those discussions focused on improving governance in the gold sector and intensifying efforts to combat informal trading networks and illegal export channels.
To address these challenges, the Prime Minister established a technical working group composed of experts from relevant ministries and specialized government services.
The group was tasked with developing practical measures to enhance the traceability, regulation, and commercialization of gold produced within the country.
The commission’s work has already identified several key solutions. Among the most significant is the completion of revisions to the national traceability procedures manual for mineral products.
This updated framework will cover the entire value chain, from extraction and processing to transportation and export.
In addition, the government plans to finalize revisions to the regulatory decree governing the Specialized Center responsible for the purchase, marketing, and export of gold from artisanal mining operations.
The revised decree will place particular emphasis on operational procedures and the applicable tax regime.
Another critical component of the strategy is the gradual integration of mining cooperatives and gold traders into the formal banking system.
Authorities consider this step essential for improving financial transparency, strengthening regulatory oversight, and reducing the volume of unrecorded financial transactions.
The government also intends to enhance export monitoring by ensuring the full deployment of the General Inspectorate of Mines and the Center for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Mineral Substances at key border crossings. This measure is expected to significantly improve control over mineral exports and reduce illegal trade.
Furthermore, the national executive aims to strengthen the country’s participation in regional certification mechanisms, particularly within the framework of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region certification scheme.
This engagement is designed to improve compliance standards and reinforce the credibility of Congolese gold exports in international markets.
Recognizing the strategic importance of these reforms, the Prime Minister has instructed the Minister of Mines to ensure the rapid implementation of the commission’s recommendations. A pilot phase of the new measures will be launched in Haut-Uélé Province, which has been identified as a priority region for intervention.
To maintain accountability and ensure effective execution, both an initial progress report and a mid-term evaluation report will be submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Through this comprehensive reform agenda, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo aims to strengthen regulation in the gold sector, increase public revenue, and combat fraud and smuggling activities that continue to deprive the national economy of significant financial resources.
