Kinshasa, May 28th, 2026 (CPA).- Control measures on entities involved in the processing of the artisanal copper-cobalt sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been presented in Kinshasa on Thursday by the Minister in charge of Mines to the Senate with a view to strengthening the fight against mining smuggling, according to a press release consulted by CPA. “The Minister in charge of Mines, Louis Watum, has presented the measures to regulate processing entities in the artisanal copper-cobalt sector in order to strengthen compliance, traceability and the fight against mining fraud to the Senate Committee on the Environment, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources and Tourism,” it is read in the statement from the Ministry in charge of Mines.
According to the source, the minister has presented these measures as part of the parliamentary oversight exercised by the Upper House of Parliament, specifying that these inspections have been carried out in the provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga, where several shortcomings—notably regarding the traceability of minerals, environmental requirements, and administrative and legal compliance—have been identified. On this occasion, Louis Watum has announced several measures aiming to strengthen transparency and traceability, notably a moratorium granted to mining operators to provide evidence of the provision of financial guarantees.
This also involves the imposition of sanctions against non-compliant operators and the establishment of a national digital register of financial guarantees. Regarding environmental bonds, the Minister in charge of Mines has reminded that these are provided for under the Mining Code and Regulations to ensure the rehabilitation of sites after mining operations, outlining the monitoring mechanisms put in place by the Ministry in charge of Mines, notably environmental inspections, periodic audits and the analysis of technical reports from mining operators.
Mr Watum has, moreover reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to continuing reforms aimed at streamlining and modernising the Congolese mining sector, in line with the vision of the Head of State, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi.