Democratic Republic of Congo's Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba recently embarked on a mission to Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba province, to tackle the challenges facing the mining sector. The visit, which took place on October 26, 2026, aims to strengthen control mechanisms, improve mineral commercialization conditions, and ensure better valuation of national resources, particularly for Congolese artisanal miners. This effort aligns with President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo's vision for the sector.
The first stop on the minister's visit was the Musompo site, where he inspected the facilities and technical services of the Center for Evaluation, Expertise, and Certification (CEEC). The inspections focused on the weighbridges and laboratory, crucial equipment for reliable mineral weighing, sampling, and analysis operations. After years of inactivity, the rehabilitation of these installations marks a significant step in reviving this infrastructure, which was inaugurated in 2023 by the head of state.
The CEEC has begun its operations, with the weighing of the first truck on the rehabilitated weighbridge and the launch of sampling and analysis activities. However, the resumption of activities is gradual, with technical difficulties still requiring adjustments before the center can reach its full capacity. The center's nominal capacity is estimated at 250 trucks per day, which could help streamline control and evacuation operations in this critical area of the mining sector.
Minister Louis Watum Kabamba emphasized that the challenge goes beyond the mere rehabilitation of equipment. It also involves guaranteeing transparent commercialization conditions for mining cooperatives, based on reliable weighing, quality analysis, and fair valuation of minerals and their by-products. To achieve this, the minister instructed the relevant authorities to ensure daily monitoring of the center's operations, facilitate the evacuation of compliant trucks, and develop a sustainable management plan for this infrastructure.
The minister's mission also focused on the presence of uniformed personnel in mining sites and the organization of artisanal mining. Louis Watum Kabamba visited the provincial office of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM), where he held a working session with the interservice commission, extended to military magistrates and the Ministry of Mines. This structure is responsible for coordinating the demilitarization of mining sites occupied by uniformed personnel and strengthening the organization of artisanal mining.
During the meeting, commission members presented their operational plan to the minister, who encouraged them to continue their mission with rigor and determination. The minister stressed the need to restore state authority and contribute to the sustainable cleanup of the sector. The presence of military personnel on certain mining sites and the difficulties in organizing artisanal mining are significant challenges for sector governance.
Through this mission in Lualaba, the Mines Minister aims to articulate two complementary priorities: restoring the effectiveness of technical control mechanisms and strengthening discipline in exploitation areas. The success of these initiatives will depend on the continuity of monitoring, the resolution of technical difficulties, and the ability of competent services to apply the announced measures durably.
Key points
- The DR Congo government aims to strengthen mining governance by rehabilitating control infrastructure and demilitarizing mining sites.
- The CEEC's rehabilitation in Musompo is a key step in improving mineral commercialization conditions and valuation.
- The minister's mission seeks to address challenges facing artisanal miners, including unfair valuation and lack of transparency.
