DRC Mines Minister Pushes for Stronger Geological Expertise and Sector Reform
DRC Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba urges reliance on local geologists and reforms to strengthen mining governance and transparency
During a visit on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to the National Geological Survey of Congo (SGN), the Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, emphasized the importance of strengthening national geological expertise as a core pillar of the country’s mining strategy.
He stated that the government’s ambition is to rely more heavily on Congolese geologists to intensify exploration of the country’s soil and subsoil, with the goal of identifying new mineral deposits and expanding the resource base.
The visit was described as highly symbolic, marking a renewed engagement with technical institutions after a period of limited oversight and interaction from the sector’s supervisory authority.
While at the SGN, the minister held discussions with senior management and later met privately with representatives of the staff union.
The approach was aimed at assessing operational challenges and addressing employee concerns through direct dialogue.
The minister also visited the Centre for Expertise, Evaluation, and Certification of Precious and Semi-Precious Minerals (CEEC), where he continued similar engagements with staff and management, focusing on internal coordination and institutional performance.
Key priorities outlined during the visit included improved transparency, stronger traceability systems, better oversight of artisanal mining, and increased local processing of mineral resources.
Beyond policy direction, the minister also highlighted the need to promote a results-driven administrative culture within the sector.
He stressed values such as patriotism, integrity, professionalism, and merit-based performance as guiding principles for public administration in the mining sector.
The visit concluded with the signing of the guestbook and a group photograph, and forms part of a broader effort to bring central mining administration closer to technical services and strengthen governance in the sector.
The initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to position mining as a key driver of sustainable economic development in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in line with national leadership priorities.
