The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Authority for the Regulation of Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP) ordered Sino-Congolaise des Mines (SICOMINES SA), which operates in Lualaba, to terminate ongoing contracts with six subcontracting firms. Decision No. 028/ARSP/DG/TB/2026 is dated 28 September; ARSP published its English notice on 29 September. The regulator said the six firms did not meet legal eligibility conditions and held contracts representing 80% of the turnover of all SICOMINES subcontractors.

The decision followed an inspection at SICOMINES whose observation report was received on 30 July 2026. ARSP said awards made in the 2025 financial year did not comply with Article 6 of subcontracting law 17/001 of 2017, as amended by Law 26/017 on 30 June 2026. According to the regulator, the rule generally reserves subcontracting to companies with Congolese capital and headquarters in the country, subject to statutory exemptions. The notice is a regulatory decision applying that legal framework to a specific company.

The order immediately bars new awards, renewals or extensions to the listed firms, requires termination of their ongoing contracts and directs that they be removed from SICOMINES’ subcontractor register until regularized. SICOMINES must also submit a corrective plan within 30 days, including a timetable for ending contracts, proof of removal from the register and measures to open access to eligible subcontractors. These requirements show the decision records more than a past inspection finding: it sets out steps and a deadline for company action.

ARSP said it would conduct a follow-up inspection and that non-compliance could trigger statutory sanctions. The notice does not name the six firms, give individual contract values or quantify effects on mine production. The turnover share should therefore not be interpreted as the independent monetary value of six contracts: it refers to the six firms’ share of turnover across SICOMINES subcontractors. The limits of the disclosed detail prevent stronger claims about commercial consequences.

Subcontracting at a mine can affect local firms’ participation in revenue and employment through maintenance, transport, construction and service work. The economic effect of enforcing local-ownership rules will depend on whether eligible firms can actually take over contracts, meet technical requirements and support continuous operations during the transition. ARSP’s announcement documents an order and monitoring process, not the eventual outcome. Follow-up reporting should separately confirm the corrective plan, inspection findings and any changes to contracts.