Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi has instructed the government to set up an enforcement mechanism to combat illegal mining in Maniema, Ituri and Bas-Uélé provinces, following a Cabinet meeting on April 24.

The plan includes the systematic seizure of equipment used at illegal mining sites, which would then be redistributed under a transparent legal process. The equipment would be reassigned to licensed Congolese operators that meet environmental and social standards.

Authorities will also introduce measures to improve production tracking and site security, and pursue those involved in illegal mining, including their support networks.

The initiative will rely on a joint commission comprising provincial authorities, the mining administration, and defense and security forces. The body, launched by the Minister of Mines after his visit to the affected areas, is tasked with establishing accountability and recommending corrective measures.

Tshisekedi also instructed the ministers of Interior, Defense, Justice and Environment to support the mining ministry to ensure a response proportionate to the scale of the problem.

The Minister of Mines has been asked to submit proposals promptly to strengthen the human, technical and financial capacity of the General Inspectorate of Mines, with the aim of improving oversight of the sector over the long term.

Tshisekedi described illegal mining as an “organized plunder” of the country’s natural resources. According to the Cabinet readout, the activities involve the use of heavy machinery to extract gold and other strategic minerals worth billions of dollars each year, with no revenue reaching the state or local communities.

Ronsard Luabeya