The governor of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has lifted the suspension on most mining activities, except for gold extraction.

This move follows a suspension imposed in July 2024 due to concerns over disorderly mining practices.

The resumption primarily affects the extraction of minerals like tin, tantalum, and tungsten (3Ts), which are significant to the region’s economy.

The ban on gold mining remains in place due to ongoing issues with smuggling and underreporting, which have deprived the government of revenue.The suspension had disrupted local livelihoods, as many depend on mining for income, but lifting the ban should help stabilize the local economy. Authorities continue to work on regularizing gold mining operations to improve transparency and governance in the sector.