UN Voluntary Principles: The DRC Draws Up Its 2026 Roadmap for a More Responsible Extractive Sector

December 2025

The Democratic Republic of Congo is taking a new step in the appropriation of international norms on security and respect for human rights within its extractive sector. The Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, took part in Kinshasa in the closing ceremony of the work on the development of the operational strategies of the National Action Plan (NAP), 2026 exercise, within the framework of the Voluntary Principles Initiative on Security and Human Rights.

Organised jointly by the Ministries of Human Rights, Mines and Hydrocarbons, these meetings were held from 15 to 17 December at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kinshasa. They brought together a wide range of actors, including representatives of the Government, mining and oil companies, civil society organisations as well as technical and diplomatic partners.

Speaking at the closing of the work, alongside the Minister of Human Rights, Samuel Bemba, the Minister of Mines welcomed the speed and quality of the exchanges that led to the adoption of the National Action Plan 2025-2030.

Structured around seven strategic axes, this document is intended, according to him, as a reference tool to guide future interventions in a coherent manner on security and respect for human rights in exploitation zones.

Louis Watum Kabamba also highlighted the development of a detailed roadmap for the year 2026, translating the collective commitment of stakeholders to produce concrete, measurable results aligned with international standards.

Among the major recommendations from these meetings is the establishment of a Joint Committee responsible for the implementation of the Voluntary Principles.

This structure, composed of extractive companies, concerned public services and civil society, will have the mission of guaranteeing a concerted, inclusive and sustainable application of the Initiative across the entire national territory.

Reaffirming the Government’s determination, the Minister of Mines assured that his portfolio will provide the necessary institutional support for the effective implementation of the decisions taken. He insisted on the importance of translating these commitments into concrete actions from 2026, in strict compliance with national laws and the international commitments subscribed to by the DRC.

Through this approach, the Congolese authorities intend to strengthen the governance of the extractive sector while consolidating the protection of human rights, an essential condition for responsible and sustainable mining development.

By the Editorial Team with Pierre Kabakila