On January 18, 2025, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) delivered an address to ambassadors accredited to the country, spotlighting the government’s efforts to enhance the traceability of “strategic” minerals sourced from the eastern region.
In his speech, Tshisekedi emphasized the critical importance of transparency and certification mechanisms designed to ensure that Congolese natural resources benefit the nation rather than external entities. He noted that in 2024, the government intensified its efforts to improve mineral traceability, bolstered by the support of international partners.
“We’ve stepped up efforts to strengthen the traceability of our minerals, alongside ongoing discussions on implementing transparency and certification measures. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring that the wealth of our country directly benefits the Congolese people, not foreign interests,” Tshisekedi stated.
The president highlighted that these initiatives are part of broader efforts to dismantle the financial support structures of armed groups operating in the eastern DRC. He pointed out that these groups depend heavily on the illegal extraction of minerals, such as coltan and gold, to fund their operations, perpetuating violence and enriching transnational criminal networks.
“The fight against armed groups cannot be fully effective without addressing the economic foundations that fuel them. The illegal exploitation of our strategic minerals continues to drive violence and line the pockets of transnational criminal networks,” Tshisekedi said.
He called for global cooperation to eliminate these criminal networks, which are often linked to large multinational corporations.
In 2024, allegations surfaced against multinational companies, including tech giant Apple, accused of sourcing minerals extracted under exploitative and illegal conditions, allegedly with Rwanda’s complicity. In December 2024, international lawyers representing the DRC filed legal complaints against Apple in France and Belgium, accusing the company of financing insecurity in the eastern DRC. In response, Apple temporarily halted its mineral supply chains from the region.
President Tshisekedi reiterated the need for international solidarity in eliminating funding for armed groups and improving governance within the natural resources sector. His remarks underscore the DRC’s commitment to ensuring that its vast mineral wealth contributes to the country’s development rather than perpetuating conflict and exploitation.
