The Democratic Republic of Congo today signed the Institutional Framework Agreement for the implementation of the National AXIS (Asset-Exchange-Impact-Sovereign) Program and the GOLDCONNECT initiative, which incorporates the innovative Sovereign Gold Reserve Token (SGRT) mechanism.
The ceremony was held under the High Patronage of His Excellency Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic and Head of State, and brought together the Ministry of Mines and the Social Fund of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In his address, His Excellency the Minister of Mines, @LouisWKabamba, emphasized that this Agreement “is not a mere administrative formality, but a major strategic step in strengthening governance of the artisanal mining sector.”
He emphasized that the AXIS National Program and the GOLDCONNECT initiative aim, in particular, to:
structure artisanal gold supply chains;
guarantee the transparency and traceability of flows;
facilitate access to innovative financing mechanisms, without creating public debt or transferring sovereignty; and
strengthen the integration of artisanal miners into the formal sector.
This Agreement marks a strategic step in the governance of artisanal gold mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It reaffirms, in particular:
the primacy of national sovereignty over natural resources;
the need for a clear, coordinated, and legally secure institutional framework; and
the commitment to a responsible, traceable, and inclusive artisanal mining model.
The implementation of the AXIS National Program will strengthen economic benefits for local communities, improve public revenue, and consolidate state sovereignty over its natural resources, in strict compliance with the national legal framework and international standards.
The Democratic Republic of Congo reaffirms its commitment to sustainably transforming its natural resources into drivers of inclusive, responsible, and sovereign development.
Cellcom Mines
