Please note that the situation is evolving daily, and our primary focus remains on supporting and ensuring the safety of our locally based field teams. We continue to receive daily communication from them as the situation evolves and important details are provided directly to ITSCI members. We are providing brief public updates on key changes but are not publishing daily updates on the rapidly evolving situation. See our previous updates here.
Since March 2025, all ITSCI activities, including tagging by state mining services have been suspended in Walikale territory, North Kivu Province, DRC, due to the presence of non-state armed group M23. M23 have withdrawn from the territory since 2nd April (see our previous update here). Since then, Walikale territory, including the trading towns of Walikale and Itebero, are under control of the Congolese Army (FARDC).
In light of these positive developments and following re-evaluation of the security situation in the area, ITSCI Field teams and state services have returned to Walikale territory.
ITSCI field teams are currently carrying out joint assessments with state services at each ITSCI mine site in Walikale territory to evaluate the current situation as well as information available on the situation during the suspension of ITSCI in more detail, including mining activities and security. Based on each site’s assessment report and if all conditions and standards are met, ITSCI ongoing monitoring and tagging by state services will restart.
Thus far, ITSCI that tagging has resumed at 14 sub-sectors, while it is expected, based on current information from the ground and unless any major changes occur, that tagging will continue to progressively resume in the coming days and weeks at all ITSCI sites in the territory.
Minerals tagged in Walikale territory will be transported to Maniema Province for onward trade and export, as part of interprovincial mineral transport agreement and procedures that are in place between both provinces and with support from ITSCI. There are still risks of illegal taxations collected at barriers or checkpoints along mineral transport routes. ITSCI has reported and communicated incidents as part of ITSCI incident management mechanism. Initial discussions of those risks took place at the local multi-stakeholder committee (CLS) in Walikale town, whose meetings are facilitated by ITSCI.
All activities in the North Kivu territories of Masisi and Lubero remain suspended. ITSCI continues to closely monitor the security developments through daily communications with our field teams and to make good faith efforts to address risks.
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Additional notes
Artisanal mining remains a vital source of livelihood for many local communities across the DRC and the broader Great Lakes Region. Despite the current situation, mining activities and tagging by state services continue in several parts of the DRC, including South Kivu, Haut-Katanga, Haut-Lomami, Lualaba, Maniema, Tanganyika, and Tshopo Province, as well as in Burundi and Rwanda.
Operating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs) present complex challenges. ITSCI remains firmly committed to supporting artisanal miners and advancing responsible sourcing in these areas. Addressing these challenges effectively requires a collaborative, risk-based approach that upholds responsible mining while delivering tangible benefits to local communities. In contrast, blanket de-risking—or a ‘cut-and-run’ strategy—not only contradicts the OECD Due Diligence Guidance but also unfairly stigmatizes the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector and jeopardizes the livelihoods of those who depend on it
We encourage anyone to use our whistleblowing programme to report any risks or incidents, for us to continue reporting and advocating for appropriate actions. The ITSCI whistleblowing procedure and contact details are available online at www.itsci.org/contact/. The confidential ITSCI whistleblowing address is [email protected].
Previous publications on this topic
- Recent Developments in North and South Kivu, DRC (April 2025)
- ITSCI statement on the recent European Council sanctions (March 2025)
- Update on the situation in North and South Kivu, DRC (February 2025)
- ITSCI reports that M23 have taken possession of an ITSCI office and other equipment and condemns all illegal actions by the non-state armed group (February 2025)
- ITSCI clarifies the role of its 3T traceability and due diligence Programme (February 2025)
- Escalating security situation in North and South Kivu (January 2025)
- ITSCI update on the security situation in North Kivu Province (January 2025)
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