Kinshasa, June 3rd, 2026 (CPA).- The mining activities near Maiko National Park, located in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been suspended as a precautionary measure to preserve natural resources, according to a statement consulted on Wednesday by CPA. “In order to preserve our natural resources and protected areas, all mining activities in the areas adjacent to Maiko National Park have been suspended as a precautionary measure, specifically those taking place within the areas covered by the aforementioned exploration permits,” it is read in the statement from the Ministry in charge of Mines.
According to the source, this decision follows an alert from the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN), which has reported the presence of two mining companies, Stone Mining SARLU and Xin Hong Kuan Ye SARL, operating near the park’s boundaries in violation of current regulations.
According to the ministry, the investigations carried out jointly with the Environment Department have revealed several breaches, notably the abusive use of exploration permits to carry out mining activities, in contravention of the provisions of the Mining Code and the Mining Regulations, the source has specified.
The statement has also referred to the violation of the Nature Conservation Act, which prohibits any incompatible activity within protected areas, as well as the intrusion of unidentified armed individuals into the affected areas. “A joint mission comprising specialist units from the Ministries in charge of the Interior, Defence, the Environment and Mines will shortly be deployed to the field to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation and formulate appropriate measures,” the source has concluded.
Established in 1970, Maiko National Park is one of the largest protected areas in DRC and is home to exceptional biodiversity, including several endemic and endangered species.