DRC ADOPTS A DRAFT DECREE ESTABLISHING THE PUBLIC INSTITUTION CALLED “INSPECTION GÉNÉRALE DES MINES”
The Congolese government has adopted a draft decree establishing the creation, organization, and functioning of a public service called the “Inspection Générale des Mines” (IGM for short). It was presented by the Minister of Mines, Antoinette N’samba, during the 94th meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, April 14, 2023.
“The General Inspection of Mines” (IGM) has, among other missions, the task of combating all forms of mining fraud and smuggling, designing, implementing, and ensuring the monitoring of practical collaboration measures in the field between public services and organizations responsible for combating fraud and smuggling in the mining sector,” according to the meeting’s minutes.
Endowed with administrative and financial autonomy, this public service is placed under the authority of the minister responsible for mines. According to the aforementioned source, this public service intends to strengthen synergy between state services empowered in mechanisms to combat mining fraud and smuggling, control and ensure the traceability of mining products from the exploitation site to the point of export.
“For the government, it is a matter of dedicating the necessary efforts and resources to enable the mining sector to play its true role as a lever for socio-economic development of the country,” the minutes of the Council of Ministers consider.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has enormous potential in the mining sector. However, it has been shown that there are illicit practices that cost the Congolese state thousands of US dollars. The Congolese economy is much more supported by mining activities.
