Democratic Republic of Congo's mines minister has suspended the head of the state agency overseeing artisanal and small-scale mining, accusing him of failing to prevent illegal mining on licensed concessions, according to an order seen by Reuters on October 27, 2026.

Mines Minister, Louis Kabamba Watum suspended Jean-Paul Kadiobo Kapongo, director-general of the Service d'Assistance et d'Encadrement de l'Exploitation Minière Artisanale et à Petite Échelle (SAEMAPE), on October 21.

The order said Kapongo failed to take necessary measures to prevent illegal artisanal mining in concession areas, particularly in the copper- and cobalt-rich provinces of Lualaba and Haut-Katanga.

The order also accused Kapongo of improperly establishing SAEMAPE revenue-collection services inside concession areas, depriving permit holders of the full use of their rights and exposing the state to potential liabilities from damages suffered by third parties.

The suspension took immediate effect and was formally communicated to government agencies and provincial authorities on October 22. Kapongo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Congo, the world's largest cobalt producer and second-largest copper producer, is grappling with a resurgence in artisanal mining as higher metal prices draw thousands of informal miners into licensed areas, creating tensions with industrial operators. Major operators in the country include CMOC, Glencore, Ivanhoe Mines and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG).

Kinshasa, which is pursuing separate minerals partnerships with the US, China and Europe, has stepped up mining reforms and enforcement as it seeks to improve governance and attract investment. Authorities this week also restarted operations at the Musompo trading centre near Kolwezi, a key facility designed to improve transparency in mineral sales through certified weighing and analysis.