Mining smuggling in the DRC: the government obtains a commission of inquiry from the ICGLR (Minister in charge of Mines)

Kinshasa, May 4^th , 2025 (CPA).- The Democratic Republic of Congo has obtained a joint commission of inquiry to shed light on the illicit trade in Congolese minerals to Rwanda, with a view to combating mining smuggling, the Minister in charge of Mines has indicated on Saturday in Lusaka (Zambia), during a meeting of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). « I am pleased to be taking part in the extraordinary meeting of Ministers in charge of Mines of the member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR), held in Lusaka, Zambia. At the end of this meeting, the DRC has obtained a joint commission of inquiry to shed light on the illicit exploitation and trade of our minerals to Rwanda, in order to combat mining smuggling », has declared Kizito Pakabomba, Minister in charge of Mines. According to the Minister in charge of Mines, this decision is “an important step towards economic justice and the preservation of the mining sovereignty” of the DRC. He has also called on the members States for a reinforced cooperation in the application of the regional mineral traceability mechanism. At the heart of the discussions, Kizito Pakabomba has denounced the persistent smuggling of Congolese minerals into Rwanda. This situation, deemed unacceptable by Kinshasa, has been officially brought before the ICGLR Executive Secretariat, with supporting evidences. « The diplomatic and technical mobilization of the DRC has borne fruit. The participants have agreed to set up a joint commission of inquiry charged with shedding light on these illicit activities and proposing concrete measures to put an end to them », he has added. This high-level meeting follows two major technical meetings held earlier in Nairobi, Kenya: the 26^th meeting of the ICGLR Audit Committee and the 30^th session of the Regional Committee of the Regional Initiative to Combat Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (IRRN).