Mining Sector Under Scrutiny as Government Flags Link to Insecurity

Bunia, April 20, 2026 - The Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, has arrived in Bunia for an official visit aimed at assessing the mining sector amid growing concerns over its role in financing armed groups and sustaining insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The visit, part of a broader tour covering Ituri, Bas-Uélé, and Maniema provinces from April 19 to 23, focuses on strengthening oversight of both artisanal and industrial mining activities in resource-rich areas, particularly those linked to gold production. Authorities say the mission seeks to improve governance of the sector, enhance state control over extraction and trade chains, and address informal mining networks that largely operate outside regulatory frameworks. However, the government acknowledges that mining remains closely tied to insecurity in several territories of Ituri. In areas such as Djugu and Mambasa, mineral exploitation has repeatedly been associated with the financing of armed groups and the expansion of illicit trade networks. Speaking during the visit, the minister stressed the need for stronger mineral traceability systems and reforms aimed at cutting off illegal flows that deprive the state of revenue while fueling instability. Local observers and stakeholders have long raised concerns over unregulated extraction, warning that competition for control of mining sites has become a key driver of violence in the region. In Ituri, minerals are increasingly viewed not only as an economic asset but also as a strategic resource that shapes armed group activity and territorial control. Despite ongoing military operations, weak regulation of extraction and trade continues to sustain a parallel economy linked to conflict dynamics. The minister’s mission is expected to feed into broader reform efforts, though analysts note that lasting impact will depend on coordinated action between security forces, mining authorities, and governance institutions to disrupt illicit supply chains and restore state oversight.