February 2026
A rigorous control of processing entities
On the instructions of the national Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, an ad hoc commission led by Franck Fwamba was at work for this purpose. Deployed at the provincial governorate to carry out an exhaustive examination of the files of processing entities operating in the region, members of the various commissions worked tirelessly for two weeks to restore the rights of the Congolese State.
These controls concern administrative, legal and technical documents, with particular emphasis on mineral traceability and the legality of supply sources. The managers of the entities concerned were called upon to comply with legal requirements, to present the necessary documents and to respond to the commission’s observations.
For his part, the Minister of Mines stressed that this operation, organised in a spirit of collaboration, reflects the Congolese government’s desire to strengthen mining sector governance, combat widespread irregularities and consolidate the value chain for copper, cobalt and other substances essential to the national economy.
It should be recalled that this strengthening of controls in Haut-Katanga follows a first phase conducted in Lualaba province by the same commission, where the State had already temporarily suspended certain processing entity activities for non-compliance, before proceeding with a partial lifting of these measures under strict conditions.
The authorities’ action illustrates a coherent national policy to combat non-compliant practices, including traceability, compliance with technical standards and transparency. The stated objective of this offensive is to clean up the mining sector, ensure that marketed minerals are legally exploited and correctly declared, and contribute to more sustainable and responsible mining.
The approach also aims to optimise the contribution of artisanal chains to the formal economy, particularly in the copper sector where the DRC holds a significant share of global cobalt reserves.
What are the stakes?
The increased control of mineral processing entities addresses recurring concerns in the Congolese mining sector: lack of traceability, fraud on mineral weights and grades, opacity in purchase price setting, and non-compliance with technical or administrative standards.
By strengthening the compliance of operators, according to verified sector actors and mining cooperative coordinators, Louis Kambamba Watum wants to protect the interests of Congolese artisanal operators, ensure fairer economic returns for the Congolese State, and reduce risks of environmental and social irresponsibility.
By Jeef Kazadi
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