DRC president demands immediate end to illegal military presence in mines

The Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation rich in critical minerals, plays a pivotal role in global supply chains. In a decisive move, President Félix Tshisekedi has ordered the removal of all unauthorized military personnel and National Police officers from mining sites across the country. This directive aims to reinforce governance, transparency, and credibility in the mining sector.

During the 94th meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the African Union City in Kinshasa, the Head of State emphasized the strategic importance of the mining industry for the country’s economic development. He highlighted the urgent need to strengthen governance, transparency, and adherence to international standards.

President Tshisekedi addressed the persistent issue of military and police personnel illegally occupying mining sites nationwide. As the guarantor of the nation, he reiterated the strict prohibition of such actions unless authorized by competent authorities within their legal mandates.

“This situation fosters negative perceptions of our natural resource governance, weakens control mechanisms, and undermines efforts toward responsible and transparent mining,” he stated, according to the official government communiqué.

The President warned that such unlawful activities severely damage the state’s authority, the country’s image, and investor confidence. He stressed that illegal militarization disrupts legitimate mining operations, fuels insecurity, and enables extortion, fraud, and illicit enrichment.

“The unauthorized presence of military and police personnel on mining sites leads to the deprivation of mining rights, intimidation, and the disruption of supply chains. It also facilitates smuggling, fraud, and illegal enrichment, compromising both national and international trust in our mining sector,” President Tshisekedi explained.

In response, the Head of State instructed key security officials—including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and the National Police Commissioner—to take immediate action. Their mandate includes:

• Removing all unauthorized military and police personnel from mining sites nationwide.
• Halting any interference by security forces in mining operations.
• Securing mining sites in compliance with national regulations.
• Dismantling networks of fraud and illegal mining supported by uniformed personnel.
• Imposing exemplary sanctions on individuals illegally present at mining sites.

Additionally, the government was tasked with strengthening control, certification, and traceability mechanisms to ensure compliance with national and international mining standards while safeguarding the rights of legitimate operators and local communities.

The illegal presence of military and police personnel in mining areas has long been a contentious issue in the DRC. Past abuses, including extortion, influence-peddling, and illicit resource exploitation, have repeatedly drawn criticism. In 2022, the government previously ordered the withdrawal of security personnel from artisanal mining sites following widespread reports of misconduct. This measure, announced by the then-Deputy Minister of Interior, Jean-Paul Molipe, during a mission to the Grand Katanga region, targeted irregularities such as unauthorized site occupations and complicity in fraudulent activities, including those allegedly involving foreign operators.

The latest directive underscores President Tshisekedi’s commitment to restoring integrity in the mining sector and ensuring that the DRC’s vast mineral wealth is managed transparently and responsibly.