Senior Economic Adviser at the DRC Ministry of Economy Nico Minga said the mining sector is driving the bulk of national revenue, with estimates of 80% to 85% of economic receipts linked to mining activity, including cobalt and copper. A cobalt export ban introduced last year has reduced exposure in that segment, but mining remains the backbone of growth, according to Minga.
The growth momentum is strong in headline terms. Minga said real gross domestic product growth is estimated at 5.5% in 2025, with an ambition of 5.9% in 2026, while acknowledging that the gains remain concentrated in mining and are not yet translating into broad improvements in living standards.
A major policy priority is shifting from extraction to domestic value capture. Minga said reforms are being introduced to reduce dependence on imports and build domestic production capacity, while strengthening the local currency in an economy that remains heavily dollarised. The reform agenda includes tighter controls and restructuring measures intended to keep more value inside the country through processing, manufacturing and stronger local supply chains.
The interview highlighted a persistent contradiction: mining-led growth does not generate enough jobs to change social outcomes quickly, while inequality and poverty remain widespread. Minga said improved corridors, energy systems, processing capacity and industrial linkages are required to spread growth beyond minerals.
External partnerships are also being positioned as part of the strategy. Minga referenced recent engagement with international partners, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, to support the domestic transformation of mineral resources rather than continued dependence on raw exports.
–ChannelAfrica–
