According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, 18 mining companies are still infringing import restrictions on certain products. These companies include Glencore (Mumi and KCC), CMOC Group (TFM and KFM), ERG Group (Metalkol, Comide, Frontier, and Boss Mining), Gécamines, Ivanhoe (Kamoa and Kico), Musonoi, Compagnie Minière de Sakania, Cominière, Kisenge Manganese, Musoshi, Kipushi Corporation, Kisanfu Mining, Minière de Bakwanga, Sicomines, Jinhuan Group, Rubamin, Zijin Mining Group, and MMG Kinsevere.

On April 30, 2025, the Ministry sent a letter to the President of the Chamber of Mines of the Fédération des Entreprises du Congo (FEC), highlighting that “certain members, mining companies, continue, despite these restrictions, to import the products in question, and this in flagrant violation of the regulations in force, exposing them to sanctions as provided for by customs legislation,” according to a document reviewed by Bankable.

The Ministry urged the companies to comply with import regulations, particularly emphasizing preference for local sourcing of products subject to restrictive measures. 

Furthermore, the Minister of Foreign Trade has instructed the Directorates General of the Office congolais de contrôle (OCC), the Direction générale des douanes et accises (DGDA), and SEGUCE to intensify vigilance and enforce sanctions against operators attempting to circumvent the law by fraudulently altering tariff codes.

This warning is part of broader efforts to regulate imports in the mining sector and promote local product consumption. The Foreign Trade Ministry recently imposed restrictions on several products, including cement bags and packaging, certain ores, grey cement and clinker, lime, iron bars, copper and aluminum electrical conductors, and stainless steel cathodes. These measures target specific regions within the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect local industry.

This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho