In a report received by CPA, Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo, revealed that more than a billion dollars in tax and para-fiscal revenues have been lost in three years due to the mining fraud. This figure corresponds to several thousand billion Congolese francs which should have gone into the coffers of the State. Mining fraud is practiced in all sectors, including cobalt, of which the DRC is the main global supplier. It is estimated that 40 tons of gold leave the national territory illegally each year. The losses are particularly detrimental to the construction of public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools and roads in mining regions and throughout the DRC.
Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi also highlighted the links between mining fraud and armed groups acting on behalf of neighboring countries that are members of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. According to the Minister, Rwanda is the main instigator of these illegal activities. She called for the revitalization of the National Commission for the Fight against Mining Fraud and Smuggling (CNLFM) to enforce the relevant legislation. The minister also asked all the technical services of the ministry to carry out awareness campaigns to avoid any attempt at fraud.
Mining fraud has plagued the Congolese economy for years, as the country has been unable to recover several trillions of Congolese francs (over US$34 billion) over the past twenty years. The PRIMRA GOLD partnership was created as part of the fight against mining fraud with an increase in gold exports of more than 550 kilos in less than six months in the artisanal sector.
The minister called on the President of the Republic to support the government in its fight against mining fraud. She called on all Congolese to avoid fraudulent practices in all areas