Eastern Congo’s Mining Sector Overrun by 1,600 Unauthorized Companies, Governor Reports

At least 1,600 unregistered mining companies are reportedly operating in eastern Congo, a figure disclosed by South Kivu’s governor, Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, during a hearing before the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee on April 2, 2025. The session, which focused on security and economic conditions in the region, underscored the scale of unauthorized activity far exceeding the governor’s initial estimate of 400 enterprises.

Upon assuming office on June 24, 2024, Sadiki undertook immediate efforts to overhaul the province’s mining sector. A month later, on July 18, a suspension order was issued to halt mining operations while the authorities undertook a comprehensive registration and regularization process. “We anticipated around 400 companies,” the governor explained, “but we identified 1,600, some of which have operated without permits, registration, or tax payments for up to a decade.”

The governor’s findings reveal that many of these firms, largely backed by Chinese capital, comprise just the tip of a sprawling web of illegal exploitation involving resources such as gold, coltan, cassiterite, copper, and diamonds. Analysts from Reuters and Bloomberg have similarly highlighted the intricacies of such networks in central Africa, pointing to systemic weaknesses in regulatory oversight and enforcement.

Further complicating the picture is the assertion that the illicit network benefits Rwanda. With its more developed infrastructure and logistical framework, Rwanda has allegedly become a critical entry point for multinational operators looking to bypass the Congolese state—a pattern detailed in various reports on France 24 and BBC News. The governor estimates that nearly 750,000 kilograms of gold exit South Kivu every six months for refining in Rwanda, a process that has drawn regulatory action in Europe, exemplified by the sanctioning of Gasabo Gold Refinery on March 17, 2025.

A significant portion of this illegally mined production reportedly finds its way to Middle Eastern markets—destinations such as Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, which account for roughly 67% of the exports—while Europe captures a marginal share and the rest heads to China.

Sadiki contends that the situation at the eastern frontier is primarily an economic confrontation. According to him, Rwanda pursues a threefold strategy: territorial control, commercial dominance—with reports suggesting that 70% of Rwanda’s trade and 60% of that involving the Great Kivu transit through its borders—and the appropriation of mineral wealth. The governor draws a parallel between these objectives and the strategic advances made by M23 rebels, who, he claims, are supported by Rwandan military interests. Meanwhile, Kigali defends its actions as defensive measures intended to safeguard its borders against threats posed by the FDLR, a rebel group with roots dating back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

The provincial head also points to internal challenges within the Democratic Republic of Congo itself. Chronic issues such as corruption and an overly complex taxation regime—with more than 1,400 taxes, 147 of which are viewed as superfluous—complicate the extraction and revenue process. Despite these obstacles, early reforms under Sadiki’s administration have reportedly increased the province’s mining revenue from $500,000 to $1.75 million in just one month