UN Experts Estimate Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Ituri Gold Smuggled Through

Kinshasa, July 1, 2026 - Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of gold extracted from Ituri Province is being illegally smuggled out of the Democratic Republic of Congo, primarily through Uganda, according to recent findings highlighting the scale of illicit mineral trade in the country's northeast.

The assessment estimates that gold production from a mining site between Mabanga and Nizi generated between US$300 million and US$800 million between March 2024 and March 2026. A second mining site near Yedi is reported to have produced more than two tonnes of gold since the beginning of 2025.

Despite this significant level of production, officially declared gold exports from Ituri totaled only 559 kilograms in 2025, revealing a substantial gap between estimated output and recorded exports.

The findings indicate that much of the undeclared gold is believed to be smuggled into neighboring Uganda. In 2025, Uganda recorded a historic 62 tonnes of gold exports valued at approximately US$6.4 billion, representing a 30 percent increase in export volume compared with the previous year. Analysts believe that a significant share of this increase is linked to gold originating from eastern DRC.

The report also highlights the rapid expansion of cyanide leaching operations used to process mining tailings in Djugu Territory. The practice is prohibited under Congolese law because of its environmental and safety risks, yet hundreds of tailings ponds have reportedly been established across the area.

Some of these mining sites are said to be under the influence of local armed groups, which allegedly impose taxes on mining activities, allowing them to generate revenue from the illicit exploitation of mineral resources.

The findings underscore the continuing challenges facing the DRC in regulating its mining sector, combating mineral smuggling, and preventing armed groups from financing their activities through the illegal exploitation of natural resources.