DRC Appoints Kompay Koko Ngiemi as Interim Head of Artisanal Mining Agency

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has appointed Kompay Koko Ngiemi as interim director general of its artisanal mining agency while the government tightens controls over mineral production and trading in the country's copper-cobalt region.

Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba signed the appointment order on 23 October, two days after suspending Jean-Paul Kapongo Kadiobo, the former head of the Service for Assistance and Supervision of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (SAEMAPE).

Ngiemi previously served as the agency's deputy director general for administrative and financial affairs. Her appointment is intended to maintain SAEMAPE's operations during Kapongo's suspension. The ministerial order does not specify how long she will remain in the interim role.

The leadership change follows allegations that SAEMAPE failed to prevent unauthorised artisanal mining within licensed concessions, particularly in Lualaba and Haut-Katanga provinces. Authorities also accused the agency of establishing revenue collection offices improperly within concession areas. These are allegations cited in the suspension orders, not established findings of criminal wrongdoing.

Kolwezi Protests Expose Tensions Over Mineral Trading

The changes come amid unrest in Kolwezi, the capital of Lualaba province, where inspections of mineral-processing facilities and buying centres have triggered protests by artisanal miners.

Demonstrations on 19 and 20 October disrupted parts of the city. Miners complained about restrictions on access to mining sites and difficulties selling their production as authorities increased inspections of businesses involved in mineral trading.

The government also suspended Lualaba's SAEMAPE provincial director, Georges Nyembo Kitungwa, on 21 October over alleged failures in supervising artisanal mining.

Watum visited Kolwezi on 25 October with a delegation to address irregularities in the sector. An interagency commission, which includes representatives from the Mines Ministry and military justice authorities, has been tasked with strengthening oversight of artisanal mining and coordinating the removal of uniformed personnel from mining sites where they are present.

Musompo Trading Centre Restarts Weighing and Testing

On 26 October, the government restarted weighing and mineral-testing services at the Musompo artisanal trading centre near Kolwezi. The facility had remained largely inactive despite its inauguration in 2023.

The first truck was weighed after equipment was restored, and the laboratory operated by the Centre for Evaluation, Expertise and Certification (CEEC) resumed sampling and mineral analysis. These services are intended to support more transparent transactions by giving traders and cooperatives access to weighing and testing facilities.

The centre is designed to handle up to 250 trucks a day, but technical problems mean it is not yet operating at full capacity. Watum has instructed managers to monitor operations daily and prepare a long-term management plan.

Artisanal miners have also called for 33 designated artisanal mining zones to be established in the Kolwezi area. The government has not announced a timetable for implementing all the requested zones.