DRC Mining Companies Agree on Framework for Congolese Ownership Participation Rules
DRC Miners and Government Reach Agreement on Decree to Increase Congolese Participation in Mining Companies
Mining companies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Mines on the draft decree governing Congolese participation in the share capital of mining companies.
The agreement was reached during a working session held on July 21, 2026, in Kinshasa, chaired by Professor Dr. Michel Kaswa Kayomo, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Mines, who represented Minister Louis Watum Kabamba.
The meeting brought together senior government officials, including the Secretary General for Mines and the Principal Advisor to the President on Mines, Energy and Hydrocarbons, as well as representatives of the Chamber of Mines of the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) and several mining companies operating in the country.
Discussions focused on the practical implementation of Article 71 bis of the Mining Code and Article 144 of the Mining Regulations, which establish requirements for Congolese participation in mining companies’ ownership structures.
At the conclusion of the meeting, stakeholders agreed on the need to proceed with the signing of the implementing decree, subject to minor technical adjustments. An ad hoc committee was established to review and finalise the remaining issues.
The move follows a January 2026 circular issued by Minister Louis Watum Kabamba, granting mining companies a deadline until July 31, 2026, to comply with legal requirements regarding Congolese participation in mining company shareholding.
The policy forms part of the government’s broader strategy to increase local involvement in the mining sector and ensure that Congolese citizens benefit more directly from the country’s vast mineral resources.
The initiative aligns with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi’s agenda, supported by Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka’s government, to promote greater economic inclusion and strengthen the role of Congolese stakeholders in the mining industry.
