Mining fraud refers to any illegal activity aimed at extracting, diverting, concealing, transporting, buying, or selling mineral substances in violation of applicable laws and regulations, including the Mining Code and the Mining Regulations.
It constitutes one of the most serious threats to the economic sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo, depriving the State of essential resources and fueling organized criminal networks.
According to Article 4 of Decree No. 23/19 of June 9, 2023, mining fraud includes, in particular:
- Illegal mining in unauthorized areas or outside legally designated boundaries
- Diversion of production by operators or third parties
- Falsification of mining documents, including certificates, titles, declarations, or transport documents
- Manipulation of declared volumes, grades, or values to artificially reduce tax or parafiscal obligations
- Corruption or collusion involving or private officials
- Concealed or undeclared export of minerals to neighboring countries
- Illicit transmission of strategic mining information to third parties, electronically or physically
- Deliberate undervaluation of state contributions to joint ventures or manipulation of transfer prices.
These practices, expressly targeted by Decree No. 23/19, undermine the transparency, traceability, and good governance of the mining sector. They also weaken local communities, which depend on the economic and social benefits generated by the legal exploitation of natural resources.
In accordance with Article 5 of Decree No. 23/19, the General Inspectorate of Mines conducts regular operations to :
- Inspect mining sites, trading posts, processing facilities, and logistics corridors
- Investigate violations to detect, document, and establish the facts
- Secure mineral substances from the extraction site to the point of export