Overview of the Extractive Industries in the Democratic Republic of Congo

10 Million people (16%) of the Congolese population are directly or indirectly dependent on small scale mining. In the 1980s, the mining sector contributed 25% of total tax receipts, 75% of total exports and 25% of GDP. In 2005, the Congolese government reported USD 27 Mio. tax receipts from the mining sector (2.4% of total fiscal receipts). Furthermore the sector contributed 0.24% of GDP.
DRC is an often cited example of the so-called “paradox of plenty.” Extremely rich in natural resources (80% of world wide resources of Coltan, 10% of world wide resources of copper), the population suffers of extreme poverty (80% of the Congolese population lives of less than US$ 0.20 a day).

Status of EITI Implementation

Democratic Republic of the Congo was accepted as an EITI Candidate Country at the board meeting in Accra 22 February 2008.

The country now has until 9 March 2010 to undertake validation.

The Government of the DRC early on identified the EITI as a tool to resolve this paradox. At the EITI Conference held in London on 17 March 2005, Jean Pierre Bemba, then Vice President of the DRC, announced that his government endorses the principles of the EITI to strengthen transparency and good governance of DRC’s extractive industry. Following this public statement the central African country embarked on the implementation of the initiative.

After some initial difficulties following the national elections in March 2007, the EITI implementation process in the DRC gained momentum. Due to the commitment of all local stakeholders, some major tasks have been accomplished:

• Signature of Presidential Ordonnance N° 07/065 of 3 September 2007 concerning the creation, organisation and operation of the national EITI committee;
• Nomination of members of the multi stakeholder political and technical committee by ministerial decree N° 24-26 CAB/MIN. PL/2007 of 12 October 2007;
• Election and subsequent nomination of the members of the permanent secretariat by Ministerial decree N° 27 CAB/MIN. PL/2007 of 10 December 2007;
• Publication of the budgeted work program with the support of all stakeholder groups on 12 December 2007;
• In January 2008 the National Committee organised an international EITI Forum in Kinshasa.

Governance of EITI implementation in DRC

EITI is governed by a multi-stakeholder political committee (Comité de Pilotage). This committee is supported by a multi-stakeholder technical working group (Conseil Consultatif). The day-to-day implementation of the work program is ensured by a permanent secretariat (Secrétariat Exécutif).
Questions and enquiries should be directed to Mr Jean Pierre Muteba who is the President of the technical working group and serves as the focal point for EITI-DRC.

EITI Focal Point

Mr Jean Pierre Muteba
President of the technical working group
E-mail: jpmuteba [at] hotmail [dot] com

DR Congo EITI website

Is not yet developed.

EITI Documents

DRC has published a workplan that can be found on the Planning Ministry website.

Further information about the status of EITI implementation in DRC can be provided by Policy Adviser Tim Bittiger at the EITI International Secretariat.