Cadastre minier (CAMI), the state body managing mining rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has reminded holders of mining rights of their regulatory obligations to begin work. In a statement dated August 20, 2025, and signed by its director general, Popol Mabolia Yenga, CAMI issued a warning that failure to comply could result in the revocation of titles.

The document includes a list of 93 titles at risk of cancellation for non-compliance with legal provisions. Of these, 55 are exploration permits and 33 are exploitation licenses. The list features prominent companies, including Tenke Fungurume Mining, cited for two titles covering six mining blocks in Lualaba province, and Cimenterie de Lukala (Cilu), which holds a title for five mining blocks in the Kongo Central province.

CAMI is enforcing articles 387 and 391 of the Mining Regulations, which require holders of mining and quarrying rights to provide proof that work has commenced within prescribed deadlines: one year from the date of issuance for exploration permits, and between one and three years for exploitation licenses, depending on the case.

Failure to comply exposes operators to the forfeiture of their rights, followed by definitive cancellation after an investigation. The Mining Code also stipulates that any holder whose rights have been forfeited is barred from obtaining new mining or quarrying rights for a period of five years.

This warning comes amid an increasingly strict approach to managing the DRC's mining sector. On August 4, 2025, CAMI submitted its cadastral registry cleanup report to the Minister of Mines, which stated that 594 mining and quarrying titles covering 37,253 mining blocks had been freed up for new investors. The report also noted the regularization of 210 rights that had been under a force majeure status, reclassifying them as active and subject once again to their fiscal, social, and technical obligations.

In 2024, the cleanup process led to the cancellation of over 1,000 non-compliant titles, helping CAMI exceed its budget forecasts for the first quarter of that year by 185.05%.

Timothée Manoke (Intern)

Japanese firm Solafune has signed a definitive agreement with the National Geological Service of Congo (SGNC), the Ministry of Mines announced on August 23, 2025. The deal, signed on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), was attended by Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba.

The document follows a memorandum of understanding reached in July. While details were not disclosed, the ministry said the first phase of the partnership “starts immediately” and introduces a platform combining satellite remote sensing and geospatial technology with artificial intelligence. The aim is to equip Congolese geologists with modern tools to improve knowledge of the national subsoil, about 90% of which remains unexplored.

Minister Watum Kabamba described the technology transfer as “a decisive step” for national technical services, urging the SGNC to fully exploit the tools to expand geological mapping and accelerate the discovery of new deposits.

The agreement comes as mining exploration in DR Congo increasingly turns to advanced technology. U.S.-based KoBold Metals, backed by Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is preparing to use satellite data and AI to explore Congolese deposits. The company has applied for a research permit covering 1,600 km² and signed an agreement with the mining cadastre (CAMI) to digitize geological archives preserved at the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

• Kibali produced 306,667 ounces in H1 2025, below the half-year target of 344,000–377,500 ounces.
  

• Production is down 13% year-on-year due to lower ore grades and operational challenges.
  

• Strong gold prices boosted revenues despite lower output
  

The Kibali gold mine in Haut-Uélé province, DRC, produced 306,666.6 ounces (8,693.8 kg) of gold in the first half of 2025. Barrick Mining, the mine’s operator, reported the figure on August 11. This output falls short of the half-year target of 344,000–377,500 ounces and marks a 13% decline compared with 351,111 ounces in the same period of 2024.

AngloGold Ashanti, which holds a 45% stake in the mine alongside Barrick, attributes the decline to lower ore grades. “Operational difficulties have reduced the amount of underground ore available for processing, increasing the use of lower-grade open-pit ore,” the company said. Barrick had previously forecast higher underground grades later in the year, but this has not yet materialized.

Despite the production drop, high gold prices have bolstered revenue. Kibali’s first-half average selling price is forecast at $3,099 per ounce, up from $2,213 a year earlier. The mine generated $702.2 million in sales in 2024, and analysts from Canadian firm Fidelity anticipate gold could reach $4,000 per ounce by year-end, supporting Barrick’s revenue growth even amid lower output.

This article was initially reported in French by Pierre Mukoko

Adapted in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

• The DRC and Rwanda initialed a new regional economic integration framework on August 1, as part of the June 27 peace agreement.

• The framework aims to formalize mineral supply chains, curb illicit trade, and improve local benefits from resource exploitation.

• U.S. investors are closely watching the process, with strategic minerals and transparency topping the agenda.

By initialing the "text of principles" for a regional economic integration framework in Washington on August 1, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have taken a tentative but meaningful step toward regulating their shared mineral trade. The document, still confidential, is a follow-up to the peace agreement signed between the two countries on June 27 and is expected to pave the way for greater transparency and regional cooperation.

The framework is described as building upon existing African integration efforts, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), and the East African Community (EAC).

According to the peace agreement, the two countries are expected to leverage the framework to "develop foreign trade and investment from the region’s supply chains of critical minerals and introduce greater transparency." The underlying goal is to dismantle illicit circuits that have long fueled regional instability and to promote inclusive prosperity through formalized and regulated resource flows.

This move could mark a turning point in the informal mining trade between the DRC and Rwanda, which has been the subject of multiple UN reports alleging illegal trafficking of minerals — including gold, coltan, and tantalum — mined in eastern DRC and re-exported via Rwanda under new labeling.

American interests in the firing line

For Kinshasa, the formalization process represents an opportunity to recapture lost revenues and align its resource exports with international standards. This is particularly relevant for minerals extracted in conflict-affected regions, which often face scrutiny under global sourcing regulations.

The United States, for its part, has expressed support for the initiative and is engaged in parallel talks with the DRC for a dedicated agreement on strategic minerals. U.S. companies such as Kobold Metals and Starlink are already present in the country, and the Biden administration sees regulated supply chains as critical to both commercial and geopolitical interests.

According to sources close to the talks, a more detailed final agreement is expected by September 27. The rollout of the new regional framework is to begin within three months of the peace agreement’s entry into force, although implementation is likely to be phased.

Whether the text of principles leads to concrete, enforceable changes will depend on political will, investor confidence, and the ability of both countries to implement cross-border oversight mechanisms without reigniting old tensions.

This article was initially reported in French by Pierre Mukoko

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho