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Another article from the same publication raises concerns with the Minister of Mines (and CAMI) that we’re familiar with:
La Ligue Congolaise de Lutte contre la Corruption (LICOCO) tire la sonnette d’alarme sur une gestion jugée « anarchique et illégale » de la mine de Rubaya (territoire de Masisi, Nord-Kivu) par le Ministre des Mines, Kizito Pakabomba. Dans un communiqué publié le 29 juillet, l’organisation...
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Mining conflict in Rubaya: LICOCO accuses Minister Kizito Pakabomba of serious violation of the Mining Code
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Kizito Pakabomba, Congolese Minister of Mines. Ph. Third-party rights.
- Wednesday 30 July 2025
- Mines
The Congolese League for the Fight against Corruption (LICOCO) is sounding the alarm on a management deemed "anarchic and illegal" of the Rubaya mine (Masisi territory, North Kivu) by the Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba. In a press release published on July 29, the organization denounced serious violations of the Mining Code and Regulations, directly pointing to the responsibility of the Minister.
According to LICOCO, the minister would have rehabilitated, by his letter of March 11, 2025, the Operating Perimeter (PE) 76 in its initial configuration of 360 squares, before fragmenting it into several permits via an order signed on March 12, assigning in particular the EP 16159 to the public company SAKIMA SA. However, says LICOCO, this scope is already governed by a joint venture agreement signed in 2020 between Congo Fair Mining SA (CFM SA) and CDMC SARL, which cancels any right of SAKIMA SA on said site.
Superposition of securities and legal uncertainty
The League accuses Minister Pakabomba of intentionally superimposed two mining titles — EP 16159 (formerly PE 4731, linked to Edouard Mwangachuchu) and EP 76 — thus violating Article 30 of the Mining Code and Article 40 bis of the Mining Regulations. This decision also goes against a judgment of the Council of State rendered on May 6, 2025, confirming that the EP 76 belongs to CFM SA.
Ministerial contradictions on "red sites"
LICOCO is also questioning the granting of this permit to SAKIMA SA when the Rubaya site had been officially classified as a "Red Site" (insecurity zone prohibiting all mining activity) by an order of the same minister signed in February 2025. This contradiction, according to the organization, fuels legal and logistical chaos in an already fragile area.
Suspicious speed and conflict of interest?
The organization denounces the suspicious speed of the procedure: within 48 hours, the minister rehabilitated a PE, received a request for transformation, obtained a favorable opinion from the CAMI, and signed an award order. This, according to LICOCO, raises serious questions about the real motivation of these acts.
Risk to the interests of the DRC
LICOCO fears that these practices will jeopardize ongoing negotiations with the United States under the strategic partnership on critical minerals. She calls on President Félix Tshisekedi to intervene firmly to preserve his vision and the authority of the State.
Firm recommendations
LICOCO addresses three main requests:
- To the President of the Republic:
- Enforce the judgment of the Council of State.
- Sanction the leaders of SAKIMA SA.
- Ensure the integrity of the mining partnership with the USA.
- To the Prime Minister:
- Propose sanctions against the Minister of Mines for violation of the government code of ethics.
- Impose disciplinary measures on the managers of SAKIMA SA.
- To public opinion:
- Remain vigilant in the face of maneuvers that compromise transparency and peace in the mining areas of the East.
Ecomine.cd
may can be a measure out of the above ...
