An order signed by Michel Kibonge Nyekuma, chief of staff to the minister of mines, on 31 July cancelled the operating rights of 29 companies in DRC, raising concerns over the country’s vital sector and the livelihood of numerous people.
The companies include Cico, Cilu, Comide, Boss Mining, Ruashi Mining, PPC Barnet and Chemaf, all owned by Congolese groups, as well as German, Kazakh, Chinese, Indian, South African and Australian companies.
“Furthermore, in such an uncertain environment, the withdrawal of authorisations can potentially affect relations with investors and bankers, making it difficult to access new financing.”The implications of the decree go far beyond this: in DRC, the mining sector is the biggest provider of jobs, both directly and indirectly. The sector accounts for 43% of the national budget, 47% of GDP, 95% of exports and a quarter of jobs.
The impact on small local businesses and suppliers is also worrying. “This abrupt decision makes us really angry, because our lives depend on the employees of these companies,” says a local trader.It’s the same story everywhere, from Goma to Kinshasa, via Bukavu and Lubumbashi. “Our lives depend on these mining companies,” says a supplier in Kolwezi, who doesn’t know how much longer he can hold out.
With one of the richest sub-soils in the world , including minerals that are essential to the energy transition or to the composition of batteries , DRC is largely dependent on its deposits.