The meeting was dedicated to the protection of industrial sites and infrastructure of the extractive sector. The leaders of four administrative divisions of historical Katanga participated: Martin Kazembe Shula (Upper Katanga), Fifi Masuka Saini (Lualaba), Marmont Banza Mulume (Upper Lomami) and Christian Kitungwa Muteba (Tanganyika).
The Lubumbashi meeting is taking place at a time when issues of access to mining sites, artisanal mining and protection of industrial facilities are attracting increasing attention from the authorities. The goal is to strengthen the presence and coordination of security forces around mining areas, as well as to prevent incidents that could disrupt the production, transportation and shipment of mineral products. In this part of the country, the challenges go far beyond simply protecting concessions. They also concern the safety of roads, transport corridors, industrial facilities, and shipments of copper and cobalt.
On the ground, the coexistence of industrial and artisanal mining remains one of the main problems. In many areas of Lualaba and Upper Katanga, prospectors' access to industrial perimeters or private concessions regularly causes conflicts. The phenomenon of illegal mining creates problems both in terms of safety and compliance with subsoil use rights, as well as in terms of the protection of workers and the local population. The situation in Lualaba illustrates this complexity: in June last year, the civil society of Fungurume reported a shooting attributed to the protection of a mining concession, amid the presence of illegal prospectors. These accusations have rekindled the debate about the methods used to prevent infiltrations into mining areas. This situation highlights the difficult balance between the need to protect investments and ensure the safety of the public and prospectors.
The issue of interaction between industrial and art mining is also relevant. In Lualaba and Upper Katanga, illegal miners entering concession areas are causing clashes. Illegal mining threatens the safety of personnel and local residents by violating the regime of subsurface use. An example is the situation in Fungurum, where in June last year, the security of a mining site used weapons against prospectors. This incident has once again raised the issue of acceptable protection methods, emphasizing the balance between investment protection and public safety.
In response, the authorities have developed a mechanism to legalize artisanal mining. In May, SAEMAPE announced the creation of 64 specialized mining zones in Greater Katanga, 33 of which are in Lualaba. The initiative aims to provide prospectors with legally defined and better controlled sites. This policy is complementary to ensuring the safety of industrial concessions: by organizing artisanal mining in designated areas, the authorities seek to reduce infiltration into territories reserved for mining companies and limit clashes over access to resources. Nevertheless, the issue of the presence of security forces in some artisanal areas remains sensitive. In the spring, SAEMAPE condemned the deployment of the military at some artisanal mining sites, considering it a violation of legal norms.
Ensuring the safety of the mining sector also concerns the transportation of products. In Upper Katanga, provincial authorities have already stepped up measures on Highway No. 1, especially on the border with Lualaba. From April 2026, trucks carrying copper cathodes will have to be escorted by police to combat regular thefts along this strategic route. This measure reflects reality: protecting a single mine is not enough. Security of the supply chain should cover the entire path — from the mining site to roads and points of export of products.
For authorities, protecting facilities should help preserve investment, infrastructure, and worker safety while maintaining social peace in the surrounding communities. The challenge is also to ensure that security measures do not lead to new tensions with populations dependent on artisanal mining. Hence the importance of an approach combining safety, monitoring of prospectors, compliance with mining laws and dialogue with communities. In addition to strengthening security measures, therefore, ensuring the safety of the mining sector requires a comprehensive approach: protecting infrastructure and investments, as well as preventing social tension through dialogue with communities and the creation of legitimate working conditions for miners. At the meeting in Lubumbashi, Head of State Felix Chisekedi and the governors of the four provinces of Greater Katanga focused on a strategy combining three priorities: the safety of investments, the safety of citizens and the legalization of illegal mining. These measures are critically important for the social stability and economic development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo region.
Comments (0)