Deadline for new mining code in DRC looms, with mining companies worried
Dakar — The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) President Joseph Kabila has not yet signed into law a new mining code, a senior aide said on Tuesday, as international mining companies wage a last-ditch lobbying effort against the measure. The comments by Jean-Pierre Kambila, Kabila’s deputy chief of staff, come amid uncertainty about whether the president intends to sign the new code, which raises taxes on miners, or whether he might let the bill become law without his signature. Under the constitution, the president has 15 days from the time parliament sends him the bill to either sign it into law or return it to parliament for further deliberation. If he takes no action, the bill automatically becomes law. It is unclear what day the president received the bill from parliament but mines minister Martin Kabwelulu said at a conference on February 7 that the code was "with the president". This would give Kabila until Thursday at the latest to act. Asked about this, Kambila told Reute...
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