IPIS study maps working conditions at 51 artisanal copper and cobalt sites in DRC’s Lualaba province

A mapping of 51 artisanal copper and cobalt sites in the DRC’s Lualaba province by IPIS, IBGDH and SAEMAPE finds at least 109,000 miners working mostly on industrial concessions, as legal artisanal zones are scarce. They face hazardous conditions, elite-captured cooperatives, exploitative foreign-controlled buyers, and army extortion at 64% of sites, while child labour was below 0.6% of the workforce. The authors call for fair pricing, accountable cooperatives, ESG compliance and an end to militarisation.

Source: adapted from IPIS Research, September 2026.