DRC Launches High-Level Conference on Mining Transparency and Good Governance
DRC Minister of Mines Opens Conference on Mining Transparency to Boost Accountability and Economic Growth
H.E. Louis Watum Kabamba, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), officially opened a landmark conference on transparency and good governance in the mining sector on Wednesday.
The event, organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI), is scheduled for January 28–29, 2026, and brings together public institutions, private sector representatives, civil society, and technical and financial partners.
In his opening remarks, Minister Watum highlighted the DRC’s strategic role in global value chains, particularly in industrialization, energy transition, and emerging technologies.
He emphasized that strong mining governance, based on transparency and accountability, is essential to harness the sector’s full economic potential.
Aligned with the vision of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and under the leadership of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the government reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing mining governance.
This includes improving institutional coordination, clarifying regulatory frameworks, promoting dialogue with economic operators and local communities, and ensuring responsible engagement with civil society.
Minister Watum urged participants to focus on pragmatic solutions and tangible outcomes, noting that this conference should go beyond rhetoric to address the key challenges facing the mining sector.
He called for strengthened traceability and accountability, and for stakeholders to establish clear, actionable commitments by the conclusion of the forum.
“The mining sector must become a pillar of national economic sovereignty, a driver of industrial transformation, and a force for social stability,” Minister Watum stated.
He closed his address by underscoring that “demanding governance is the condition for development,” before officially declaring the conference open.
The International Republican Institute (IRI), an international non-governmental organization promoting democracy and good governance, has been active in the DRC since 2015.
Its work has included election observation missions, programs supporting electoral processes, and initiatives to strengthen accountability and the capacity of civil society and political institutions.
Since May 2025, IRI has concentrated its efforts on improving governance in the DRC’s mining sector, making this conference a pivotal moment for advancing reform and transparency.
