President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has ordered the immediate removal of soldiers and police officers involved in mining activities without official authorisation, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral sector.
The directive, announced after a Cabinet meeting, targets members of the security forces who are operating in mining sites outside their legally assigned responsibilities.
Government Spokesperson Patrick Muyaya said the move is intended to address concerns over illegal practices in the mining industry, including fraud, illicit mineral trade and weak oversight of natural resources.
He said the presence of security personnel in mining areas without a legal mandate has damaged public confidence in the management of the country’s mineral wealth and created opportunities for illegal networks to operate.
“This creates a negative perception of the management of our natural resources, makes monitoring more difficult, facilitates illegal mineral trade networks and undermines government efforts to promote transparent mining in line with international standards,” Muyaya said.
The government said allowing unauthorised security involvement in mining activities undermines state authority, affects the country’s image and risks discouraging investors and development partners.
“It is impossible to allow practices that weaken the authority of the state, the image of our country, the confidence of investors and partners, as well as reforms underway in the mining sector,” Muyaya added.
The directive comes as the DRC continues efforts to reform its mining sector, which remains a key pillar of the country’s economy but has for years faced challenges including illegal exploitation, smuggling and poor governance of mineral resources.
