The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is stepping up efforts to reinforce geological expertise as part of broader reforms aimed at revitalizing the mining sector and improving governance.
This follows continued a series of field visits by Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, on Tuesday, April 14, to institutions under his ministry, including the National Geological Service of Congo and the Center for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Precious and Semi-precious Mineral Substances.
According to the ministry’s update on its X platform, the visits are part of an initiative to engage directly with staff, understand operational challenges, and assess working conditions within key technical agencies. During the tours, the minister held discussions with management teams, union representatives, and employees before inspecting facilities at both institutions.
Kabamba emphasized the government’s commitment to leveraging national expertise—particularly that of Congolese geologists—to boost mining exploration and accelerate the discovery of new mineral deposits. Strengthening local technical capacity is seen as central to unlocking the country’s vast mineral potential.
He reiterated that his priorities align with the vision of President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, implemented under the coordination of Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka.
These priorities include promoting good governance, transparency, and traceability in the mining sector, alongside enhancing local value addition and ensuring that mining benefits reach communities.
The minister also underscored core values guiding his leadership, including patriotism, integrity, pragmatism, and meritocracy. He called for a professional environment grounded in mutual respect, open dialogue, effective communication, and accountability for results.
The initiative reflects Kinshasa’s broader push to reform the mining sector while ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic gains from its natural resources.