Kinshasa, April 16, 2026 – The Democratic Republic of Congo officially established, by decree adopted in the Council of Ministers on April 10, the establishment of a Strategic Reserve of strategic mineral substances. This instrument aims to stabilize markets, support the valorization of resources, and strengthen the country’s economic sovereignty.
The management of this reserve is entrusted to the Regulatory Authority for the Control of Markets for Strategic Mineral Substances, now authorized to acquire, hold, manage, and market volumes of strategic minerals.
This development is in line with the reforms initiated by the Congolese government to regain control of its mineral resources and maximize their economic and social benefits. It extends in particular the measures taken in 2025, when ARECOMS temporarily suspended cobalt exports in the face of falling prices due to an oversupply, before introducing a quota system to regulate the market.
With this reserve, the Congolese state has an additional lever to intervene in a targeted manner on available volumes, in order to preserve the balance of the international market and better capture the value of its resources.
For reference, decree No. 18/042 of November 24, 2018 classifies cobalt, germanium, and columbo-tantalite (coltan) as strategic mineral substances.
Established by decree No. 19/16 of November 5, 2019, ARECOMS is responsible for regulating and controlling the production and export of these minerals throughout the territory. It also ensures market stability, sector attractiveness, compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards, and the protection of vulnerable populations, both in artisanal and industrial exploitation.
