Analysis of the Institutional Architecture in Mining Negotiations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

By general opinion, mining contracts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are poorly negotiated. Institutional weaknesses and lack of expertise are cited among the causes. This perception deserves an objective analysis, in order to study the negotiation framework of mining contracts in the DRC. A qualitative study was conducted among the structures of mining governance in the DRC. The institutional landscape is fragmented, with a multitude of actors, without interconnection. There is a gap between the formal roles and the actual practices of the institutions involved, There is no structured collaboration mechanism, and this results in a lack of information flow between institutions. The establishment of an interconnected framework will strengthen negotiation capacities with investors. It is therefore paramount to implement a structure that integrates the different stakeholders of mining negotiation. By improving the coordination of activities, by valuing the negotiators' expertise, the country will better safeguard its interests against multinational corporations and national as well as foreign investors.

Keywords: mining negotiation, institutional architecture, integrated diplomacy