Category B processing entities in southern Katanga: Louis Kambamba Watum is determined to recover the rights of the Congolese people and the State

February 2026

The province of Lualaba, the true lung of the extractive industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is experiencing a decisive phase of reorganisation of its mining sector.

A clean-up commission led by Franck Fwamba, Special Advisor to the Minister of Mines, recently launched an operation to control and bring into compliance mining processing entities operating in the province. This initiative is part of the national authorities’ overall vision aimed at strengthening good governance, transparency and traceability in the exploitation and marketing of strategic mineral substances.

The commission conducted a series of hearings and technical evaluations with sector operators. The main objective is to verify the compliance of processing entities with the provisions of the Mining Code and its Regulations, particularly regarding licensing, technical capacities, compliance with environmental standards and legal supply circuits.

This approach aims to correct the malfunctions observed in certain practices, often the source of economic losses, administrative irregularities and tensions between field actors.

A mission to secure artisanal operators

One of the major axes of this clean-up concerns the protection of artisanal operators, an essential link in the mining chain. By reorganising access to trading counters and processing entities, the commission aims to guarantee fairer purchase conditions, eliminate abusive intermediaries and promote better remuneration for artisanal work. The reform also contributes to the fight against parallel circuits and to the consolidation of a more structured and equitable market. On the ground, reactions are generally positive.

Many mining actors believe that this operation marks an important turning point in the management of the sector in Lualaba. The methodical and inclusive approach of the commission is perceived as a strong signal of the political will to restore order, trust and credibility to the Congolese mining sector. Several mining operators have described this initiative as necessary and salutary, calling for its continuation and extension to other segments of the mining chain.

Beyond control, the clean-up undertaken opens the way to the modernisation of provincial mining governance. By strengthening regulatory compliance and transparency of operations, the authorities are laying the foundations for a more responsible exploitation of natural resources, capable of generating a sustainable economic and social impact for the benefit of local communities and the State.

The work carried out by the commission led by Franck Fwamba thus appears as a strategic step in the construction of a more structured, more equitable and more attractive mining sector for formal investments.

By Jeef Kazadi