Congo Launches Major Probe Into Illegal Mining and Collusion

Kinshasa, DRC — The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has launched a far-reaching investigation into illegal mining and organised plunder within international mining concessions, after an anti-fraud commission uncovered evidence implicating members of the security forces and foreign nationals.

Justice Minister Guillaume Ngefa announced the probe on Tuesday, directing both civil prosecutors and military auditors to act immediately. The investigation follows a report by the National Anti-Fraud Commission that exposed a powerful black-market network operating within cobalt mines in Lualaba Province, a key region for the global energy transition supply chain.

“A Betrayal of National Interest”

The affected sites are reportedly concessions operated by global mining companies Glencore and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). According to the report, they have been infiltrated by illegal operators using industrial machinery, allegedly protected by “uniformed men” from the Congolese police and the presidential guard.

“This is not just illegal mining, it is a betrayal of national interest,” declared Minister Ngefa. “We will pursue all those involved, regardless of rank, job title, or nationality.”

The commission’s findings depict a “state within the state,” a criminal structure blending rogue security officials, foreign intermediaries, and local agents. The scheme reportedly caused millions of dollars in losses to the national treasury while threatening the safety of workers and undermining legitimate investors.

Tshisekedi’s Government Draws a Line

The probe underscores President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo’s campaign to restore order and accountability in the mining sector — the backbone of Congo’s economy.

Since taking office, President Tshisekedi has prioritised sovereign control over strategic minerals, reforms in licensing transparency, and stricter oversight of joint ventures. The new investigation is seen as a direct warning to both corrupt insiders and foreign actors profiting from illegal extraction.

Who’s Involved: Key Allegations

The anti-fraud report identifies three levels of collusion:

• Security involvement: elements of the police and armed forces allegedly protecting illegal miners.

• Foreign complicity: Chinese and Lebanese nationals accused of financing and coordinating illicit extraction.

• Institutional silence: local authorities accused of turning a blind eye to illegal exports.

Investigators are said to be preparing arrests, asset seizures, and disciplinary actions. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that findings will be shared with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the High Military Court for follow-up.

A Turning Point for Congo’s Resource Governance

For decades, Congo’s mineral wealth, cobalt, copper, and gold, has been both a blessing and a curse, fuelling corruption and foreign interference. The current probe marks what analysts call a “shift from silence to sovereignty”, consistent with Tshisekedi’s broader reform agenda.

Legal experts note that by targeting networks that span state institutions and multinational supply chains, the government signals that the age of impunity is closing.

“Congo is no longer the playground of shadow economies,” a Kinshasa-based economic analyst told XTRAfrica. “This is the most serious anti-fraud initiative since independence.”

From Resource Curse to Resource Power

As the DRC asserts greater control over its mineral resources, it aims to transform natural wealth into national prosperity. The government insists that legitimate investors will be protected, while illegal profiteers, whether in uniform or in suits, will face justice.

With the global energy transition raising demand for cobalt and copper, Kinshasa’s message is clear: Congo’s resources must serve the people, not cartels.