Recent news in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the shortcomings of compliance with the Mining Code by certain mining companies. The Congolese Anti-Corruption League (LICOCO) recently demanded the withdrawal of mining titles granted to companies such as Stone Mining Company Sarl, CDMC Sarl, AMUR Sarl and DF SA Mining Congo. These companies are accused of not having respected the obligations set by Congolese mining law.
In a press release, LICOCO points out that these companies had the obligation to conduct negotiations with local communities, to respect environmental and social standards, to develop technical and financial feasibility studies, and to start construction works. exploitation if the results of the research were conclusive. However, it would seem that these obligations have not been respected, with mining sites inactive, occupied by artisanal miners or not respecting socio-economic and environmental standards.
LICOCO is therefore asking the Congolese government to withdraw the mining titles granted to these companies and to grant them to companies that meet the technical and financial criteria necessary for responsible mining. The objective is to contribute to the sustainable development of the Kivu region, which is one of the poorest and most unstable in the country.
By supporting the government’s initiative, LICOCO is also calling on Congolese civil society to mobilize to obtain the forfeiture of mining titles from companies that have not respected their commitments. This will strengthen the application of the Congolese Mining Code and promote responsible mining that benefits the local population and respects the environment.
It is essential to emphasize that compliance with the Mining Code and environmental and social standards is crucial to ensure sustainability and equity in the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. By taking steps to sanction companies that do not comply with these rules, the Congolese government is sending a clear message of its desire to promote responsible mining and fight corruption in this key sector of the country’s economy