DRC Urged to Strengthen Oversight as $150 Million in Mining Revenues Missing from Community Funds
DRC Parliamentarians and Mines Minister Push for Transparency in Mining Revenues for Local Communities
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, the Minister of Mines, Louis Kabamba Watum, met with a delegation of national parliamentarians who presented their mission orders for a parliamentary visit to North Kivu province.
The discussions centered on the 0.3% allocation of mining companies’ turnover—a provision in the 2018 Mining Code designed to improve the living conditions of local communities.
The lawmakers reaffirmed their determination to ensure that this allocation genuinely benefits the affected populations.
They also stressed the importance of specifications, a key mechanism to guarantee that mining companies respect their social commitments to local communities.
Minister Watum welcomed the deputies’ engagement, emphasizing that such collaboration between the government and parliament represents a pillar of transparency, fairness, and good governance in the management of the mining sector.
Despite the legal framework, concerns remain over how mining revenues destined for local communities are being managed.
Civil society groups, particularly the Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP), have raised alarms about irregularities.
According to an audit by the Court of Auditors, only USD 213 million was transferred to communities between 2018 and 2023, out of an expected USD 310 million—a shortfall of nearly USD 100 million.
In addition, ODEP reported that some mining companies manipulated tax declarations, leading to an estimated USD 50 million in additional losses.
In response, ODEP has called for urgent reforms to ensure transparent and equitable management of mining resources, urging the government to strengthen oversight and safeguard community rights.
“Protecting local communities from fraud and ensuring accountability in mining revenue distribution is critical for development and stability,” ODEP stated.
