The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of Mines revoked the mining rights of seven companies in late October 2025 as part of its policy to enforce stricter compliance in the sector. The revocations were issued for failure to pay annual surface rights fees.

According to a list published by the Mining Cadastre (CAMI) on Nov. 3, Geocore was the most affected entity, losing two separate mining titles. One of the titles, granted in 2021, covered five mining squares in the Nyunzu and Kongolo territories of Tanganyika province, authorizing the company to conduct exploration and prospecting for gold, cassiterite, coltan, and wolframite.

Another notable firm was Regal Maniema, which had its Research Permit No. 3279 revoked. The company had previously faced the threat of forfeiture for the same reason, following a similar procedure initiated in 2021 over unpaid fees for the 2019 financial year.

These forfeiture decisions are based on Article 289 of the DRC's 2018 Revised Mining Code. The code allows affected companies to appeal the decision before competent authorities within 30 days of notification and publication. If no appeal is filed, the forfeiture is formally registered with the Mining Cadastre and published in the official gazette.

Under the Mining Code, the payment of surface rights is the second main condition for maintaining the validity of a mining title, after providing proof of the effective start of exploration or exploitation work. These rights are due annually, calculated based on the perimeter area and the permit’s validity period. The fees range from $0.03 to $1.14 per hectare, payable in Congolese francs at the current exchange rate.

Timothée Manoke