The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has launched a wide-ranging audit of mining revenues and state assets, in a renewed push to tackle corruption in one of its most important sectors.

President Félix Tshisekedi has ordered authorities to carry out a full review of mineral export earnings within 30 days, aimed at exposing unpaid revenues and weaknesses in mining agreements.

The DRC sits on some of the world’s richest mineral deposits, including cobalt, copper, lithium, gold and coltan. These resources have placed the country at the centre of global competition, as major economies race to secure supplies needed for clean energy and electric vehicle production.

Yet despite this wealth, the country continues to face widespread poverty, with critics long pointing to weak governance and corruption in the mining sector.

In recent months, the government has signed separate mineral deals with both the United States and China, as the two global powers intensify efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains.

As part of the new crackdown, Tshisekedi has instructed that customs, ports, the central bank and commercial banks be fully interconnected to create a single traceable system for all mineral exports and imports.

–ChannelAfrica–