Title: Ensuring Transparency in the DRC’s Extractive Sector: Call for EITI-DRC
Introduction :
In the context of transparency and good governance of natural resources, the Minister of State in charge of Planning of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Judith Suminwa Tuluka, recently called the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI-DRC) to play a crucial role. Its objective is to ensure the transparency of the country’s extractive sector by integrating the observations of the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) and the Court of Auditors in its next report, scheduled for 2023.
A call for greater transparency:
At the 124th meeting of the EITI-DRC Executive Committee, chaired by Judith Suminwa Tuluka, the implementation of EITI activities in the DRC was reviewed. The Minister stressed the importance of taking into account the observations of the IGF and the Court of Auditors in the next EITI report in order to guarantee its quality and transparency. She also mentioned the need to collect reliable data on the gold sector, from the provinces and the Decentralized Territorial Entities (ETD). All this information will be included in the final report, scheduled for the end of 2023.
Towards better governance of natural resources:
Emphasizing the importance of respecting EITI standards, Judith Suminwa Tuluka stresses that transparency in the extractive sector is essential to guarantee the participation of the DRC in the IX EITI Global Conference, which is was held last June in Senegal. She insists that the DRC must continue to work in this direction, in accordance with the new 2023 standard of the EITI, which emphasizes the fight against corruption and gender inclusion.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI):
The EITI aims to promote transparency and good governance in the mining and petroleum sectors by encouraging mining companies and governments to publish information on the payments made by companies in connection with their extractive activities. Since 2012, mining companies have been required to disclose more information, including on production, contracts, company ownership and social expenditures. The DRC became an EITI candidate in 2007 and achieved compliant status in 2014.
Conclusion :
Judith Suminwa Tuluka’s call for EITI-DRC to ensure transparency in the DRC’s extractive sector is an important step towards better governance of natural resources. By integrating the observations of the IGF and the Court of Auditors in its next report, the EITI-DRC will be able to provide more exhaustive and more reliable information on the payments made by the extractive companies.. This transparency will contribute to strengthening the confidence of national and international actors and to promoting the equitable and sustainable development of the extractive sector in the DRC