Mining Sector Audit: The Carter Center Supports Félix Tshisekedi’s Initiative

An Important Reform

The Carter Center has welcomed President Félix Tshisekedi’s announcement of an audit of the Congolese mining sector, describing it as an important step toward strengthening the governance of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Decided during the 87th meeting of the Council of Ministers, this operation will focus on compliance with obligations related to the repatriation of mining export revenues, the management of mining joint ventures, and mining assets owned by the State.

In a press release published on May 13, 2026, the organization stated that this initiative could help improve transparency and accountability in a key sector of the Congolese economy.

Financial Losses Denounced

Present in the DRC for more than fifteen years on issues related to mining governance, the Carter Center recalled that it has conducted several studies on the management of public companies and mechanisms for mobilizing mining revenues.

The organization notably cited its report “A State Affair,” published in 2017 on the governance of Gécamines. The investigation revealed that more than 750 million US dollars in revenues were not traced in the partnership records of the state-owned mining company. The document also denounced opaque contractual practices and weaknesses in oversight mechanisms.

The Carter Center also referred to studies conducted between 2013 and 2024 on tax obligations related to several mining projects. According to these analyses, certain tax avoidance practices may have caused public revenue losses estimated at nearly 4 billion US dollars.

The Limits of the Tax System

The organization recalled that an assessment of the revised 2018 Mining Code, carried out in 2025, had already highlighted several challenges in maximizing mining revenues.

Among the problems identified were the complexity of tax instruments, the low level of digitalization of services, and the limited capacities of the tax administration.

The Conditions for a Credible Audit

To ensure the effectiveness of this audit, the Carter Center emphasized several requirements, including transparency in the process, access to contracts and financial statements of the companies concerned, and the involvement of specialized experts.

The organization also recommended the participation of civil society and parliamentary oversight of the process in order to ensure better management of mining revenues for the benefit of the Congolese people.

Héritier Maila

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