The West remains concerned with Ill-sourced minerals largely considered to finance terrorism, human trafficking and for allegedly sustaining armed violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo).
Kinshasa government has come up with a mechanism of proper management of its natural resources.
The project initiated by President Félix Tshisekedi, consists of setting up a certification system for mining reserves.
According to Kinshasa authorities, this project is a significant step in ensuring transparency and traceability of mining. Certification aims concretely to protect national interests, particularly during trade negotiations, while offering solid guarantees to investors.
The project will also ensure that each allocated mining square is listed and evaluated according to international standards.
According to a lawyer Jean-Claude Katende, an expert in mining issues, this mechanism presents many advantages for the DRC, particularly protection of interests in the face of investors.
“This is what we have always asked for, because today, as far as most of the mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo are concerned, we have geological studies that go back years. And currently, if we want to sit down with investors and discuss in such a way that the DRC earns more, it is important that certification be done,” said Jean-Claude Katende.
However, Katende is concerned about the outcome of this project, following the failure of the Mining Fund for Future Generations, which since its establishment has only enriched politicians.
He notes that the Fund was aimed at strengthening the confidence of international partners, who are often wary of the risks of corruption and illegal exploitation of resources in the DRC.
“You will see that at the level of this fund, we have hired several people on this case. And most of the people who have been hired have connections with one politician or another. In fact, the vision behind it is not necessarily an effective fund, but the idea behind it is that everyone would like to put someone from the family somewhere. That is already a problem because a large part of this fund will go into the administration,” he indicated.
In this process of certification of mining reserves, the Mining Cadastre (CAMI), remains the body that will be a central actor, especially to fight against fraud and corruption, which are vices that eat away at the mining sector in the DRC.
Only the digitalization of this service (mining cadastre) could dissuade these practices, so that the allocation of mining squares meets strict and transparent criteria. This is to make the mining administration more reliable and eliminate fraudulent practices.
According to engineer Freddy Mpinda, a digital expert, the digitalization of this specialized service will strengthen transparency in the allocation of mining concessions to combat corruption, which has become a major obstacle in the mining sector.
“It is important that this technical service is very well detailed to allow the Congolese State the maximum collection of tax revenue. It is up to the Minister of Mines to have a very sharp eye. And on this, he must use the latest technologies to be able to ensure that the State is well aware of everything that has as mining space in the DRC and that the State really draws the necessary benefits and taxes from it,” Freddy Mpinda, digital expert,said.