In a significant milestone for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s artisanal gold sector, state-owned DRC Gold Trading SA has confirmed the successful purchase and export of over 280 kilograms of artisanal gold through its Kindu branch in Maniema Province, just two months after the facility began operations.
The transactions have brought more than US$27 million into the provincial economy—a boost attributed to the company’s strategic partnership with Rawbank, which provides financial and logistical support for secure gold transactions.
This initiative forms part of DRC Gold Trading SA’s broader mandate to formalize artisanal gold mining, reduce smuggling, and integrate local production into the official economy.
Speaking on the achievement, Cyprien Birhingingwa, Deputy Managing Director of DRC Gold Trading SA, revealed that nearly 50 kilograms of gold were collected within the first week alone, highlighting the rapid momentum of the new branch. This performance is particularly notable, considering Maniema was excluded from the 2024 gold production report by the Cellule Technique de Coordination et de Planification Minière (CTCPM) due to historically low formal output.
Maniema Governor Moïse Mussa Kabuankubi hailed the development as “a great feat” and emphasized it as evidence of the province’s untapped potential in gold mining.
The operational success in Kindu has also taken on added strategic importance after DRC Gold Trading SA was forced to suspend gold purchases in South Kivu on March 11, 2025, due to deteriorating security following the advance of M23 rebel forces. The disruption in South Kivu—one of the country’s main artisanal gold hubs—has made Maniema’s growing output essential in stabilizing national gold flows.
As of June 2025, the Kindu branch continues to play a critical role in sustaining artisanal gold supply and injecting much-needed revenue into the local economy, reinforcing the value of formalized trade in conflict-affected regions.
