Security officers at Bipemba Airport in Mbujimayi, Democratic Republic of Congo, seized 13 kilograms of diamonds on November 11, 2025, after discovering the cargo had not been declared for transport to Kinshasa.

Provincial anti-fraud services and the Provincial Mining Division said the stones were not listed on any official paperwork and had not been reported to the authorities, in breach of national traceability rules.

The diamonds were brought to interim provincial governor Daniel Kazadi Cilumbayi, who called a security meeting with all agencies active at the airport, including the police, the National Intelligence Agency, the Mining Division, and anti-fraud units. The meeting focused on determining how the attempted smuggling occurred and improving coordination among security services.

Kazadi praised the officers involved and said the provincial government remained committed to tackling mineral trafficking. “There will be no tolerance for such practices. The law must be strictly applied,” he said, adding that smuggling undermines supply-chain transparency and deprives the province of revenue.

The governor instructed security and mining authorities to strengthen checks at all exit points in the province and urged closer cooperation among the institutions responsible for anti-fraud work.

The seized diamonds were transferred to the Centre for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification (CEEC) and the Provincial Mining Division for technical analysis and valuation, the governor’s office said. With no claimant for the cargo, an investigation has been opened to identify those responsible.

Ronsard Luabeya

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said on Tuesday, Nov. 11, that it had initiated Federal Court proceedings against AVZ Minerals, the mining company that claimed mining rights over the Manono lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The regulator alleges that the company and two of its directors failed to meet their disclosure obligations to investors concerning the legal dispute surrounding the project. AVZ was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) until trading was suspended in May 2022. It was delisted in May 2024.

Through its subsidiary Dathcom Mining, AVZ held a 75 percent stake in a licence covering part of the Manono site, which is widely regarded as the DRC’s largest lithium deposit, but it never secured the mining rights. In October 2023, joint-venture partner Cominière, a state-owned company, announced that it had signed an agreement to operate part of the deposit with China’s Zijin Mining Group. AVZ is contesting these developments and has launched several international legal proceedings to defend its claims.

ASIC alleges that the company failed to disclose information about the dispute for nearly a year. Managing Director Nigel Ferguson and Technical Director Graeme Johnston are also accused of breaching their duties as directors by allowing the publication of “false or misleading” announcements to the ASX.

“It was all but impossible for retail investors to travel to an overseas location in central Africa where the company’s operations were being conducted. In those circumstances, investors rely on the company to provide accurate and timely information. We allege Mr Ferguson and Mr Johnston failed to inform investors of the ongoing issues in this case for nearly 12 months,” ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said.

AVZ and its directors “strongly denied all allegations of wrongdoing” in a statement issued shortly afterward, saying they will vigorously defend themselves in court.

Emiliano Tossou

The population of Lubumbashi has expressed concern about water quality after pollution was reported in several neighborhoods following an acid effluent spill from the mining company Congo Dongfang Mining (CDM). REGIDESO has issued assurances about the safety of the water it supplies to its customers.

In a media statement, David Angoyo Rutia, regional director of REGIDESO Grand Katanga, said the company’s water intake points remain intact and that tests carried out after the incident showed no contamination.

He explained that, as soon as the industrial accident was reported, REGIDESO deployed teams to various intake sites to conduct sampling and quality checks. “There is no need for fear… Our sources are intact,” he said.

However, the official noted that, as a precaution, about 1,200 meters of piping supplying the Kamatete neighborhood in the Annexe commune — the area directly affected by the incident — were temporarily isolated.

David Angoyo Rutia also stressed that this assurance applies only to water supplied by REGIDESO to its customers, and not to other sources used by part of the population, including shallow boreholes and domestic wells.

This clarification renewed some concerns. Local media have pointed out “the absence of REGIDESO in several parts of the city,” which forces many residents to rely on boreholes or wells for daily consumption. Among these neighborhoods is Kasapa, in the Annexe commune, where the incident occurred.

A suspected case of food poisoning was also reported in the Camp Scout neighborhood, still in the Annexe commune. According to the child’s mother, the meal was prepared with water from a well. She said she noticed the food had an acidic taste.

On November 3, 2025, acidic water from CDM’s retention basin flowed into several surrounding neighborhoods. Residents reported skin irritation after contact with the water, and domestic animals that drank it died. Images shared on social media also showed dead fish floating in streams affected by the polluted effluents.

The Electricity Sector Regulatory Authority (ARE) issued on October 24, 2025, a compliant opinion to Sattel International for obtaining an independent power generation license for a 6 MWc solar photovoltaic plant with storage in the territory of Luozi, in Kongo Central province.

According to the company, this infrastructure will supply electricity to more than 7,500 households, reduce CO₂ emissions by over 23,000 tons a year, and stimulate local economic activity. The project also aims to improve access to education and health services in the region. However, it is uncertain whether the initial schedule, which expected the plant to be commissioned before the end of 2025, can be met.

Specialized in sustainable electrification and hybrid solar solutions for more than 25 years, Sattel International, through its subsidiary Sattel Energy, designs, finances, installs, and operates energy solutions adapted to the needs of financial institutions, companies, public administrations, and rural communities.

Its business model combines energy leasing, direct sales, and operation and maintenance services, supported by an energy management system (EMS) that allows real-time monitoring and optimized consumption.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the company says it has completed around thirty projects totaling 7.5 MWc installed. Its main achievements include solar electrification for banks — notably Equity BCDC in Kinshasa and several provinces — high-end private residences (in Gombe, Mont-Fleury, Binza, and Kintambo), as well as agricultural, industrial, and public lighting sites in Boende. Present in the DRC and the Republic of Congo, Sattel International plans to expand its activities to three more African countries by 2026.