Congolese Private Sector Subcontracting Regulator Details Control Results
Between 2020 and 2025, 14 major mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo directed approximately $20 billion in subcontracting payments to ineligible vendors, according to the Autorité de régulation de la sous-traitance dans le secteur privé. Juan Ted Beleshayi Kasanda, director general of the Private Sector Subcontracting Regulation Authority, known as ARSP, disclosed the figures on October 20, 2026, during a live audio session hosted by journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala.
14 mining companies dominate subcontracting turnover
The initial regulatory audits examined 14 mining companies that represent the backbone of the extractive sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These enterprises account for an estimated 80 to 90 percent of total subcontracting turnover nationwide. The audited operations include Glencore subsidiaries Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda Mining, Ivanhoe Mines subsidiary Kamoa Copper, the state-linked enterprise Sicomine, and China Molybdenum Company divisions TFM and KFM. According to ARSP data, checks covered operations spanning from 2020 through 2025, though authorities evaluated certain firms over shorter windows ranging from six months to two years.
ARSP finds official subcontracting declarations unreliable
Regulatory findings stand in sharp contrast to official declarations submitted for 2025, which indicated that 83 percent of $3.7 billion in reported subcontracting contracts went to Congolese firms. The ARSP director general dismissed those declarations as unreliable. Officials relied on document analyses, matching lists of approved certificate holders against supplier rosters provided by primary mining companies. Investigators found that many paid vendors lacked the mandatory legal certificate. The director general stated that some suppliers failed to secure even a nominal proxy to obtain clearance, characterizing the omissions as a direct challenge to state authority.
Regulator orders mining groups to terminate ineligible contracts
ARSP enforcement measures have already targeted several major extraction groups operating within the country. In September 2026, the regulator ordered Frontier SA, Boss Mining SAS, and Metalkol SA—three subsidiaries of the Eurasian Resources Group—to terminate contracts with ineligible providers and remove them from vendor lists under decision n°026/ARSP/DG/2026. Similar orders affected Glencore units Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda Mining through decision n°020/ARSP/DG/2026. Audit reviews revealed that 955 of 1,427 suppliers examined at Kamoto Copper Company, and 585 of 1,133 at Mutanda Mining, failed to prove legal eligibility. Both entities received a 30-day window to submit compliance correction plans. Additional corrective notices reached Ivanhoe Mines affiliates, including Kipushi Corporation, alongside the Sino-Congolais des Mines operation.
Regulatory Obstacles and Inspection Capacity
The regulatory authority faces structural hurdles in expanding its oversight across the broader economy. ARSP maintains jurisdiction over 13 distinct economic sectors beyond mining, operating with an inspectorate that recently underwent internal recruitment to improve financial auditing capabilities. Commercial banks have resisted sharing financial records, creating bottlenecks that prevent regulators from cross-referencing company ledger accounts against independent banking data. When asked about potential internal complicity regarding years of unchecked irregularities, the director general declined to speculate, limiting official statements to verified inspection outcomes.
What are the Congolese subcontracting laws?
What specific legal requirement defines subcontracting eligibility in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Under the law enacted on February 8, 2017, subcontracting markets in the country are strictly reserved for commercial entities registered under Congolese law, possessing majority Congolese capital, and promoted by Congolese nationals, unless formal statutory exemptions apply.
How much did declared subcontracting total in the most recent full reporting year?
In 2025, 167 large enterprises officially declared a combined total of $3.7 billion in subcontracting contracts, according to figures cited by regulatory authorities.
What specific penalty did regulators impose on Glencore’s local mining operations?
Through decision n°020, ARSP ordered Kamoto Copper Company and Mutanda Mining to break ties with non-compliant vendors—affecting 1,540 combined suppliers—and mandated that they submit formal corrective plans within 30 days.
Ils ne se sont même pas donné la peine de trouver un prête-nom pour aller chercher l’attestation.
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