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DRC Mining Minister Louis Watum Kabamba Sets Governance, Transparency, and Reform as Top Priorities
copperbeltkatangamining.com
Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba Outlines Priorities to Reform and Modernize DRC’s Mining Sector
September 3, 2025September 3, 2025 Constance
DRC Mining Minister Louis Watum Kabamba Sets Governance, Transparency, and Reform as Top Priorities
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the new Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Louis Watum Kabamba, met with the heads of agencies and institutions under his ministry to define the priorities of his mandate.
According to an official statement, the meeting also served as an introduction aimed at strengthening collaboration between technical managers of the mining sector and the new minister.
Minister Kabamba outlined a series of strategic priorities designed to modernize and strengthen the mining industry:
Establishing governance rooted in transparency and accountability.
Reorganizing and modernizing artisanal and industrial mining operations.
Ensuring mining revenues directly benefit Congolese citizens.
Intensifying the fight against mining fraud and smuggling.
Revitalizing state-owned enterprises in the sector, including Gécamines.
“This meeting marks the beginning of an active collaboration to drive new momentum in our mining sector,” the minister said. “We must move forward together to make mining a true lever of prosperity for our people, rooted in good governance, modernization, and the fight against fraud.”
Kabamba emphasized that his program is fully aligned with the vision of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, who has prioritized building a strong, diversified, and inclusive mining industry.
The focus, he said, will be on local resource transformation to generate greater added value for the country.
He stressed his determination to implement reforms with efficiency, rigor, and responsibility, calling on all stakeholders to work collectively toward these goals.
Mining Sector Challenges
The mining sector remains the backbone of the DRC’s economy, accounting for over 90% of export revenues through copper, cobalt, gold, lithium, and coltan. However, it continues to face major challenges, including:
Uncontrolled artisanal mining.
Widespread smuggling and corruption.
Limited benefits for local communities.
Underperforming state-owned mining companies.
In 2024, the government attempted to restore transparency and improve traceability in supply chains, notably through a review of the Sino-Congolese contract.
However, critics argue the deal remains unfavorable to Congolese citizens. Reports have also pointed to senior officials, including members of the presidential family, holding undeclared stakes in mining assets.
As a former private sector executive, Minister Louis Watum Kabamba is expected to leverage his experience to attract investment, restructure public mining companies, and ensure the mining sector delivers tangible benefits for the Congolese population.