Diamond producers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently regained the freedom to sell their production without restrictions tied to a limited list of buyers. On June 2, 2025, Mines Minister Kizito Pakabomba officially rescinded the 2022 ministerial decree that had regulated sales of minerals under the supervision of the Centre d'expertise, d'évaluation et de certification des substances minérales précieuses et semi-précieuses (CEEC).

The minister declared that the 2022 decree was nullified as it conflicted with articles 85 and 108 of the Mining Code, which guarantee mining rights holders the freedom to market minerals extracted from their concessions. He emphasized that mining production regulation must strictly adhere to the Mining Code and its implementing regulations, rejecting any inappropriate supplementary rules.

The revoked decree had assigned CEEC the exclusive role of marketing precious and semi-precious minerals—including diamonds, gold, colored stones, and artisanal mining products—through appraisal, evaluation, and certification. The diamond sector, in particular, suffered under this regime due to the Kimberley Process’s strict certification requirements and the introduction of auctions.

Société Anhui Congo Investissement Minier (Sacim), a diamond producer jointly owned by the Congolese state and China’s Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Corporation Limited, welcomed the repeal. Sacim had actively lobbied for months against the decree, which it blamed for its ongoing financial difficulties.

Ronsard Luabeya (intern)