The Democratic Republic of Congo organizes the general states of the mines, its economy, but which is in contrast to the poverty of the population and the meager economic mobilizations of the state. Bosses from mining companies, civil society and authorities have together made an inventory of the mines since Thursday in Kinshasa.
as reported from Kinshasa,
Mining Minister Antoinette Nsamba began the three-day work, in a firm tone towards her own administration. “It is not normal for the private sector to succeed where the administration and public mining companies fail. Together, we have an obligation to go from programmed failure to a mining development strategy where the country wins, investors win, preserve their reputation and where communities are built beyond mineral reserves, ”she said.
To do this, the government must think outside the box, insisted expert Kalaa Mpinga, special guest at the forum. “All state-owned companies are in crisis. We must find solutions, they must be restructured, reconsider their very raison d’être, he explained. And we have to find that there are ways and means to either restart them, or restructure them or put them in another set, let’s think outside the box. Let us even think about what is unthinkable and try to find solutions ”.
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The work with experts and other participants will be intensive for a country that does not properly control its land and subsoil. According to Kalaa Mpinga, only 15% of the Congolese geological potential is known. The sector represents 20% of GDP, less than 10% of formal employment, according to the authorities.
The mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo is “very conflict-free”, confirmed the only expert who spoke at the opening of the meeting. “There are conflicts between the major mining operators and the state. These conflicts are centered around the new mining law, around taxation. There is also a mining code that was adapted in 2018. And some players refuse or do not want to play the game or do not want to participate,” he said.
Fight mining scams
The States General should address the issue of craft mining, a source of conflict, a topic that civil society expects to be very demanding. According to its delegates, it is the environmental impact and the fight against mining fraud that are losing enormous financial resources to the Congolese state. In a statement alongside the opening of this forum, the “Congo not for sale” campaign also called on the Prime Minister to order a full review of the implementation of the so-called “minerals for infrastructure conventions”. concluded in 2008-2009 between the Chinese Business Group and the Congolese state. A Leon contract according to civil society organizations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, which needed liquidity after its first democratic elections since independence, had granted an almost total tax exemption – presumably to repay the loans granted more quickly. The “Congo Does Not Sell” campaign, which brings together anti-corruption organizations, notes that only a third of the $ 3 billion originally planned has been received by the country. According to the press release, the infrastructure was transferred in congestion. President Félix Tshisekedi of the opposition has expressed since last May his intention to renegotiate the said mining deal, signed under his predecessor Joseph Kabila; a promised revision, in the name of the Congolese who “still lose in misery”.
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