Kizito Pakabomba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, welcomed the launch of the National Dialogue on Mining Governance, which began on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
Organized by the Crisis Committee for Peace and Security (CCPS-RDC), a coalition of civil society organizations, the dialogue addresses mining governance amid ongoing conflict in the DRC and the Great Lakes region.
In his speech, Minister Pakabomba emphasized that indifference from any segment of society is no longer acceptable, especially as the country’s territorial integrity continues to be threatened by war in the east.
“The future of our mining sector can no longer be determined behind closed doors or treated with indifference, especially given the suffering it causes or intensifies—particularly in eastern DRC, where the conflict orchestrated by Rwanda and its M23 proxies continues to devastate communities and claim countless lives,” he stated.
He added that this national dialogue represents a turning point and a collective response to a longstanding injustice.
“This process is a historic imperative: to end the injustice of having immense natural wealth while our population remains in poverty,” he said.
Minister Pakabomba expressed regret that instead of driving development, the DRC’s mineral wealth has become a source of violence and illegal exploitation, undermining national sovereignty, destroying the social fabric, and stealing the future of children.
“This dialogue is crucial. It’s not just another meeting—it’s a space for engagement, truth, and action. A vital opportunity to not only diagnose the problems but to act decisively with real, workable solutions,” he concluded.
