Beneath the hills of eastern Congo, thousands of hands dig the earth every day in search of gold, coltan or cassiterite. These men and women keep one of the most strategic industries on the planet running, while paradoxically remaining the most exposed to its dangers. In 2026, the artisanal mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo stands at a decisive crossroads: between international pressure for mineral traceability, fragmentation of supply chains and the chronic vulnerability of small-scale operators, the challenges are as deep as the deposits being exploited.
A sector that sustains millions of Congolese people
The informal mining sector in Congo is not a marginal phenomenon. According to the most recent estimates, between 1.5 and 2 million artisanal miners operate in the DRC, to which must be added several million indirect dependants — traders, transporters, local craftspeople. In the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Maniema and Haut-Katanga, artisanal mining is often the main source of monetary income for entire communities.
Yet, despite this considerable economic weight, these actors operate within a profoundly unequal legal and organisational framework. The Congolese Mining Code, revised in 2018, officially recognises the artisanal exploitation zone (ZEA), but in practice, the majority of artisanal miners still work outside these designated perimeters, in an informal mining context that deprives them of access to credit, safety equipment and formal markets.
The coltan supply chain: from underground to smartphone
Coltan — a contraction of colombo-tantalite — is one of the DRC’s emblematic minerals. Essential for manufacturing capacitors used in mobile phones, laptop computers and military equipment, it feeds a coltan supply chain DRC that links the slopes of the Congolese forest to factories in China, Europe and North America.
A fragmented and opaque value chain
The typical chain begins with the artisanal miner (creuseur), who sells their production to a local trader (comptoir), who resells to a licensed exporter, before the mineral is shipped to international smelters. At each link, margins shrink for the initial producer. In 2026, international tantalum prices remain at high levels due to demand linked to the energy transition and consumer electronics — but this added value rarely benefits the Congolese creuseur.
The structural problems are numerous:
- Information asymmetry: miners are often unaware of real global prices and sell at imposed prices.
- Presence of armed groups: in certain areas of the east, militias levy illegal taxes on sites or directly control extraction.
- Low bargaining power: geographical isolation and the absence of collective organisation weaken miners’ position relative to trading houses.
- Lack of traceability: the mixing of minerals from different origins (blending) remains common, complicating any serious certification effort.
Certification and due diligence: where do things stand in 2026?
In response to the scandals surrounding “conflict minerals” revealed in the 2000s and the growing pressure from consumers and regulators, several certification mechanisms have been deployed in the DRC. The question of artisanal gold mining DRC certifications is at the heart of sector development policies.
The main mechanisms in place
The ICGLR Certification Mechanism (International Conference on the Great Lakes Region) requires exporters to validate the traceability chain. The iTSCi (ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative), managed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative, covers a significant portion of cassiterite, wolframite and coltan sites in the relevant provinces. More recently, the CRAFT standard (Code of Risk-mitigation for ASM engaging in Formal Trade) was designed specifically for artisanal sites, with progressive requirements adapted to field realities.
In 2026, the European regulation on due diligence in mineral supply chains — fully in force for EU importers — increases pressure on European smelters and traders to document the origin of their supplies. This creates, in theory, a strong incentive to integrate Congolese artisanal miners into certified supply chains.
The persistent limitations of certifications
Yet the reality remains complex. The costs of joining certification systems remain prohibitive for small individual operators, who often need to form cooperatives to gain access. Moreover, the geographical extension of certification programmes remains insufficient: a large proportion of active sites in 2026 is still not covered. Finally, certifications alone do not eliminate security risks, nor do they guarantee fair prices for producers.
Specific risks for independent small-scale operators
Among the risks facing artisanal miners in Central Africa, the health and safety dimension occupies a prominent place. In the DRC, mine accidents remain frequent: gallery collapses, mercury poisoning (used in gold panning), respiratory diseases linked to silica dust. The absence of adequate personal protective equipment aggravates these risks.
Economic and social vulnerability
Beyond physical safety, independent artisanal miners face structural economic vulnerability:
- Absence of social protection: no health insurance, no pension, no compensation in the event of an accident.
- Indebtedness: many work under a creusage at compte system, repaying advances from traders in minerals, which perpetuates their dependence.
- Child labour: despite legislative progress, the phenomenon remains documented on certain sites, particularly in non-certified zones.
- Forced displacement: the allocation of concessions to industrial companies sometimes leads to the eviction of artisanal mining communities without adequate compensation.
The role of cooperatives and civil society organisations
Faced with these challenges, mining cooperatives play a growing role in 2026. Structures such as FENACOMIC (Fédération Nationale des Coopératives Minières du Congo) seek to aggregate artisanal miners to improve their bargaining power and access to certification programmes. International NGOs, such as Pact and Global Witness, document abuses and advocate for structural reforms. But their impact remains limited without a strong commitment from the Congolese state and industrial buyers.
Towards equitable formalisation: conditions and prospects
In 2026, several approaches have gained consensus among experts for sustainably improving the situation of Congolese artisanal miners. Systematic mapping of active artisanal sites is a prerequisite for any effective policy. Administrative simplification of cooperative and ZEA registration procedures is essential to reduce the share of informal mining in Congo. Financing access to certification through subsidy mechanisms or guarantee funds would make it possible to include the smallest and most isolated sites.
Finally, the dimension of fair pricing cannot be ignored. As long as artisanal miners receive an infinitesimal fraction of the global value of their production, the incentives to join legal and certified supply chains will remain insufficient. The responsibility of industrial buyers, smelters and technology companies — subject to growing due diligence requirements — is decisive here.
FAQ — Frequently asked questions about the artisanal mining sector in the DRC
What is artisanal gold mining in the DRC?
Artisanal gold mining refers to the manual or semi-mechanised extraction of gold by individuals or small groups, without the use of heavy industrial equipment. In the DRC, it is practised mainly in the gold-bearing provinces of the east of the country (Ituri, North Kivu, Maniema) and represents a significant share of national gold production, often exported informally.
How does the coltan supply chain work in the DRC?
The typical chain begins at the level of the artisanal creuseur, who sells their production to a local trader (comptoir). The latter resells to a licensed exporter, who ships the mineral to foreign smelters — mainly in Asia and Europe — before it is transformed into electronic components. Traceability is often deficient between the first and last links of this chain.
What are the main certification systems for artisanal minerals in the DRC?
The main mechanisms include the ICGLR Certification Mechanism, iTSCi for cassiterite, wolframite and coltan, as well as the CRAFT standard designed for small artisanal sites. In 2026, the European regulation on due diligence also strengthens the obligations of European mineral importers.
What risks do independent artisanal miners face in Central Africa?
The risks are multiple: physical accidents (collapses, poisoning), economic vulnerability (absence of social protection, indebtedness), presence of armed groups on certain sites, child labour and the risk of forced displacement during the allocation of industrial concessions. These risks are amplified by the absence of a formal protection framework.
Does formalisation of the artisanal sector genuinely benefit miners?
Formalisation can bring real benefits — access to certification, better bargaining power, enhanced safety — but only if it is accompanied by administrative simplification, financial support for joining traceability programmes and a guarantee of fair prices. Without these conditions, formalisation risks being nothing more than an additional control tool to the detriment of the most vulnerable miners.
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