Congo president orders probe into copper and cobalt export revenues, document shows

Tue, 28th Apr 2026 14:08

* Tshisekedi cites poor oversight, opaque joint ventures, and capital flight as ⁠revenue risks, cabinet minutes

* Audit aims to identify unpaid revenues and governance failures in mining partnerships

* Congo to interconnect agencies, crack down on illegal mining, minutes

KINSHASA, April 28 (Reuters) - ‌Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi has ordered a comprehensive audit of mining export revenues and state assets, ⁠warning that weak controls were preventing the country from fully ⁠benefiting from record copper and cobalt exports, according to cabinet minutes seen by Reuters. Congo is a top supplier of cobalt and copper, and also holds vast reserves of lithium, gold and coltan, making it a battleground in the global competition to secure critical mineral supply ‌chains. The Congolese government has signed separate minerals deals with the United States and China as the two superpowers seek to build critical mineral stockpiles to aid the clean-energy and battery electric vehicle transition.

The central African nation exported about 3.4 million metric tons of copper in 2025, up from 3.1 million tons in 2024, while cobalt exports reached around 220,000 tons, according to figures cited at a cabinet ‌meeting chaired by Tshisekedi on Friday but seen this week. Congo shipped about 955,000 metric tons of copper between January and March 2026, down from ‌about 1.09 million tons a year earlier, Reuters reported this month.

Despite surging output, Tshisekedi said the state was losing revenues due to poor oversight, opaque joint ventures involving state mining assets, non-repatriation of earnings and capital flight through fraudulent imports.

The president ordered an exhaustive audit within 30 days to identify unpaid revenues and governance failures ‌in mining partnerships, according to the minutes. It did not specify the mechanisms and scope of the audits.

He also instructed authorities to fully interconnect customs, port agencies, the central bank and commercial banks, saying no ⁠mineral export ⁠or import should escape a single traceable chain. Initial findings are ‌due by June 15, the minutes said. Congo, among the world's poorest, has recently launched mining reforms to tighten state control over the mineral sector to help boost revenues. A state audit found that major mining companies underreported about $16.8 ‌billion between 2018 and 2023, potentially reducing funds for the government and local communities.

Tshisekedi further ordered a crackdown on illegal and often violent mining operations. Measures include seizure of illegal equipment and criminal prosecution. (Reporting by Ange Kasongo; Writing by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Editing by Keith Weir)