The Democratic Republic of the Congo is intensifying its push for greater control over its natural resources, rolling out wide-ranging reforms to overhaul its gold trade and capture more value from the sector.
At the center of the reforms is the expansion of DRC Gold Trading, a state-owned entity tasked with formalizing the country’s largely informal gold market. According to Business Insider Africa, the company is targeting 15 metric tonnes of artisanal gold in 2026, a sharp increase aimed at bringing production into official channels and boosting state revenues.
The government has also moved to take full ownership of the gold trading system, shifting away from earlier joint-venture structures and ensuring tighter state oversight. A landmark agreement now gives the central bank priority access to gold purchases, allowing the country to build national bullion reserves and reduce reliance on foreign currencies.
These reforms are designed to tackle a long-standing challenge: widespread smuggling and informal trade, with estimates suggesting that tens of tonnes of gold leave the country illegally each year, depriving the state of critical revenue.
By centralising trade, improving traceability, and aligning pricing with international benchmarks, authorities aim to formalise artisanal mining, strengthen financial stability, and enhance transparency across the supply chain.
