The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken a firm stance against the illegal trade of its mineral resources, leading discussions at an extraordinary meeting of Mines Ministers from member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), held in Lusaka, Zambia.
The DRC’s Minister of Mines, His Excellency Mr. Kizito Pakabomba, played a central role in the high-level meeting, which followed two key technical sessions in Nairobi: the 26th session of the ICGLR Audit Committee and the 30th session of the Regional Committee for the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR).
A major focus of the Lusaka meeting was the DRC’s official complaint regarding the continued smuggling of its minerals into neighboring Rwanda—an issue Kinshasa has condemned as a direct violation of regional agreements and economic sovereignty.
The DRC presented documented evidence to the ICGLR Executive Secretariat, prompting strong support from other member states. This led to a pivotal resolution: the creation of a joint investigative commission that will examine the extent of smuggling activities and propose targeted actions to stop them.
Minister Pakabomba hailed the move as “a significant step toward economic justice and the protection of the DRC’s mineral sovereignty,” and called on all member states to strengthen collaboration in enforcing regional mineral traceability systems.
The outcome marks a renewed commitment within the Great Lakes Region to combat illegal resource exploitation and enhance transparency in the mineral supply chain.
