Congo replaces state mining chiefs who opposed US-backed deal

President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo CD has removed the top leadership of the state-owned mining company Gecamines, a decision finalized on 2026-02-24T16:29:57.000Z. The removal of Gecamines chair Guy Robert Lukama and CEO Placide Nkala Basadilua comes at a critical juncture for the country's mining sector, as the government seeks to resolve a contested takeover of the cobalt and copper producer Chemaf. The shakeup at the state miner immediately affects the approval authority over the proposed sale of Chemaf to Virtus Minerals, a bidder backed by the United States US.

The leadership change is significant because Gecamines holds the underlying mining leases for Chemaf’s operations, and its formal sign-off is a legal requirement for any change in ownership. The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo took action after Lukama and Basadilua reportedly opposed the plan by Virtus Minerals to acquire the producer. This opposition stood in contrast to the broader strategic goals of the Tshisekedi administration, which has been actively working to attract investment from the United States while simultaneously attempting to limit the expansion of control by China CN over the nation's strategic cobalt and copper assets.