President Tshisekedi Appoints New Leadership at Primera Gold DRC SA
On Wednesday, August 21, 2024, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo announced new appointments to the board and executive management of Primera Gold DRC SA via a presidential decree broadcast on national television (RTNC).
Mr. Joseph Mahombi Kazibaziba has been reappointed as Director General, while Mr. Vagheni Pay Pay is reappointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The decree also introduces several new board members, including Mr. Placide Nkala Basadilua, former Director General of Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines).
Nkala Basadilua is noted for his controversial tenure, which involved criticisms from the Court of Auditors for “bad governance practices” and the transformation of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) into a consultative role under his authority.
The updated leadership team at Primera Gold DRC SA is as follows:
–Chairman of the Board: Mr. Vagheni Paypay
–Director General: Mr. Joseph Mahombi Kazibaziba
–Deputy Director General: Mr. Cyprien Birhingingwa Mugabo
–Board Members: Mr. Vagheni Paypay, Ms. Julie Shiku, Mr. Joseph Mahombi Kazibaziba, Mr. Placide Nkala Basadilua, and Mr. Éric Kabanda Biamungu
Primera Gold DRC SA, a joint venture between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Arab Emirates through Primera Group Limited, is tasked with overseeing the purchasing, marketing, and export of artisanal gold.
The company aims to address fraud and smuggling in the artisanal gold sector by channeling production into official markets and ensuring clean, conflict-free supply chains.
The establishment of Primera Gold DRC SA reflects President Tshisekedi’s commitment, along with the support of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Ben Zayed Al Nahyan, to reform the gold industry.
This initiative addresses long-standing issues related to illicit gold mining and trade, particularly in South Kivu, and seeks to mitigate the funding of regional instability.
