The Democratic Republic of Congo has suspended mining activities for three months in parts of its eastern South Kivu province as authorities move to crack down on illicit extraction and mineral smuggling, according to a directive from the mines ministry.
The suspension covers Mwenga and Shabunda territories, two mining-rich areas where artisanal extraction of gold, tin ore (cassiterite) and coltan is widespread.
The order, issued on May 22 and signed by mines minister Louis Watum Kabamba, said the measure was aimed at curbing illegal mining operations and improving oversight of mineral production in the region.
During the suspension period, a special inspection mission led by the General Inspectorate of Mines will be deployed to verify the legality of mining activities and assess compliance with national regulations, the directive said.
Authorities said the move is intended to reduce mining fraud and the illicit exploitation of minerals, which have long plagued the resource-rich eastern provinces of the vast central African country.
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South Kivu is one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most mineral-abundant regions, with artisanal miners playing a central role in extracting key resources such as gold, tin ore and coltan, a strategic mineral used in the production of electronics.
However, the sector has also been repeatedly linked to smuggling networks and armed groups operating in eastern Congo, where conflict has persisted for decades.
Last year, the government imposed a ban on trading minerals from dozens of artisanal mining sites in North and South Kivu provinces, citing evidence that illegal mineral flows were helping to finance armed groups in the region.
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The latest suspension represents an escalation of efforts to bring greater state control to artisanal mining, which remains a major source of livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people but is often characterised by informal operations and weak regulation.
The mines ministry said the inspection mission would also recommend reforms to improve transparency and ensure that mining activities comply with national laws once operations resume.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world’s most resource-rich countries, holding vast reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, minerals that are critical to global energy transition technologies and electronics manufacturing.
Despite this wealth, the country continues to struggle with illegal exploitation, weak governance and security challenges in its eastern regions, where multiple armed groups remain active.
Analysts say efforts to formalise the artisanal mining sector are essential to improving state revenues and reducing the influence of armed actors, but caution that enforcement remains difficult in remote and insecure areas.
The suspension is expected to have a short-term impact on local miners who depend on daily extraction for income, although authorities have not announced any compensation measures.
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It remains unclear how long it will take for inspections to be completed or when mining operations will fully resume after the three-month period.
Officials have pledged that the temporary shutdown will be followed by stricter regulation and renewed licensing processes aimed at restoring order to the sector.
