Société Aurifère du Kivu et du Maniema
A Congolese state-owned mining company with interests in gold and tin deposits in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Société Aurifère du Kivu et du Maniema, commonly known as SAKIMA, is a state-owned mining company of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its portfolio is associated with gold and tin deposits in the eastern provinces of Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu, while its operational base is in Kalima, Maniema Province. The company was created in 1997 to assume the assets of Société Minière et Industrielle du Kivu, during a period when the Congolese mining sector was being reorganized amid political instability and conflict. SAKIMA initially had a mixed ownership structure in which Canada-based Banro Resource Corporation held 93 percent and the Congolese state held 7 percent. The government expected the company to contribute substantial capital to the rehabilitation of a broad group of mineral assets, including cassiterite, coltan and gold operations. Banro, however, focused primarily on gold and declined to make the wider investment sought by the administration of President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. Relations subsequently deteriorated, and SAKIMA's mining agreements were revoked by presidential decree in July 1998. The concessions were transferred to Société des Mines du Congo SARL, a newly created wholly Congolese state company. The revocation led Banro to begin a billion-dollar claim before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. After Joseph Kabila became president, the dispute was resolved out of court in April 2002. Banro received a 30-year, 100-percent interest in the Twangiza, Kamituga, Lugushwa and Namoya gold mines, while SAKIMA was re-established as a wholly Congolese state-owned company. These arrangements shaped the later division between SAKIMA's state-held assets and Banro's gold-focused projects. The company's history is closely connected with the Second Congo War. In 1998, shortly after the withdrawal of its mining rights, the Rally for Congolese Democracy rebellion expanded into eastern Congo. SAKIMA director Alexis Thambwe was reported to be sympathetic to the rebellion, which enabled the group to take control of SAKIMA concessions and requisition available mineral stocks. The conflict and changing control of mining areas made sustained industrial development difficult. In 2003, SAKIMA entered an agreement with South Africa-based Central African Resources. The company promised to invest 36 million dollars and manage SAKIMA's mines; the agreement also included an option under which it could acquire 80 percent of SAKIMA. SAKIMA later leased a number of deposits to other companies, arguing that Central African Resources had delayed the start of operations. Central African Resources disputed the legality of those arrangements, but the Congolese Ministry of Mines revoked its contract during the 2007–2008 mining-contract review process. SAKIMA continued to seek operating partners for its mineral assets. In 2020 it agreed with Ugandan company Dott Services to establish Punia Kasese Mining, a joint venture intended to operate sites in Maniema Province. The proposed ownership was 70 percent for Dott Services and 30 percent for SAKIMA. In 2021, an agreement involving the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda provided for gold from the venture to be sent to Rwanda-based Dither Ltd for refining. The arrangement was revoked in June 2022 amid the renewed M23 offensive and deteriorating relations between the two countries. SAKIMA is therefore best understood as a Congolese state mining vehicle and concession holder rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its significance lies in the governance, leasing and redevelopment of mineral properties in a conflict-affected region. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current production scale, a complete list of operating mines, a current executive roster or an official corporate website.
History
SAKIMA was established in 1997 to take over the assets of Société Minière et Industrielle du Kivu. Its creation came during a period of major restructuring in the Congolese mining sector and growing political instability in eastern Congo. At inception, Banro Resource Corporation held 93 percent and the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo held 7 percent. The state sought investment across cassiterite, coltan and gold properties, whereas Banro concentrated on gold. The resulting disagreement contributed to the withdrawal of SAKIMA's mining agreements in July 1998 and their transfer to Société des Mines du Congo SARL. The transfer triggered a major legal dispute. Banro filed a claim for approximately one billion dollars with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. After Joseph Kabila succeeded Laurent-Désiré Kabila, the dispute was resolved outside court in April 2002. Banro obtained a 30-year, full interest in the Twangiza, Kamituga, Lugushwa and Namoya gold mines, while SAKIMA was restored as a wholly Congolese state-owned company. The company's early years also overlapped with the Second Congo War. In August 1998, the Rally for Congolese Democracy launched a rebellion that developed into the wider conflict. SAKIMA director Alexis Thambwe was described as sympathetic to the rebel movement, and the rebellion was able to take over SAKIMA concessions and requisition mineral stocks with limited disruption. SAKIMA sought outside operating capital in 2003 through an agreement with Central African Resources of South Africa. Central African Resources committed to invest 36 million dollars and manage SAKIMA's mines, with an option to acquire 80 percent of the company. SAKIMA later leased several deposits to other firms, stating that Central African Resources had been slow to begin operations. Central African Resources challenged the legality of those leases, but the Ministry of Mines revoked the agreement as part of its 2007–2008 mining-contract review. In 2020, SAKIMA entered a new partnership model with Ugandan company Dott Services. Their proposed Punia Kasese Mining joint venture was designed to operate sites in Maniema, with Dott holding 70 percent and SAKIMA 30 percent. A subsequent 2021 agreement between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents provided for gold from the venture to be refined by Dither Ltd in Rwanda. That plan was revoked in June 2022 during renewed M23 fighting and heightened tension between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The available reference material presents SAKIMA primarily as a state-owned holder and developer of mineral interests. It does not provide reliable current information on production volumes, a complete active-mine list, current management, revenue, reserves or an official website.
- 2022
Rwanda refining arrangement is revoked
[1]The proposed route for venture gold to be refined in Rwanda is cancelled amid renewed M23 conflict and regional tensions.
- 2020
Punia Kasese Mining is established
[1]SAKIMA agrees with Dott Services to create a joint venture for mining sites in Maniema Province.
- 2008
Central African Resources agreement is revoked
[1]The Ministry of Mines cancels the agreement during the national mining-contract review process.
- 2003
Central African Resources partnership is signed
[1]SAKIMA appoints Central African Resources to manage its mines under an investment and potential ownership agreement.
- 2002
Banro dispute is settled
[1]An out-of-court settlement gives Banro long-term full interests in four gold mines and restores SAKIMA as a wholly state-owned company.
- 1998
Mining agreements are revoked
[1]The government revokes SAKIMA's mining agreements and transfers the concessions to Société des Mines du Congo SARL.
- 1997
SAKIMA is founded
[1]SAKIMA is created to assume the assets of Société Minière et Industrielle du Kivu.
Products and positioning
A state-owned Congolese mining concession holder and operating-partner platform focused on mineral assets in Maniema, North Kivu and South Kivu.
Precious metals
Gold
Gold is SAKIMA's principal identified mineral interest. The company's history includes concessions and partnerships involving gold deposits in the Kivu and Maniema regions, although the available reference material does not establish current production volumes or the operational status of every deposit.
Base and industrial minerals
Tin and cassiterite
SAKIMA inherited interests in tin-bearing assets, including cassiterite deposits, when it assumed the assets of Société Minière et Industrielle du Kivu. The Congolese government expected the company to rehabilitate these operations, but the reference material does not confirm current production or commercial output.
Technology and industrial minerals
Coltan
Coltan was among the mineral resources associated with the asset base that the Congolese government wanted SAKIMA to develop. Publicly available material supplied for this entry does not document a current coltan product line, production level or active mine.
Brand decisions
2020
Punia Kasese Mining joint ventureM&ABackground
SAKIMA sought a partner to operate mining sites in Maniema Province.
Action taken
SAKIMA agreed with Dott Services of Uganda to establish Punia Kasese Mining, with proposed ownership of 70 percent for Dott and 30 percent for SAKIMA.
Aftermath
A related gold-refining arrangement involving Rwanda was later revoked in 2022 amid renewed M23 fighting and regional tensions.
2003
SAKIMA partners with Central African ResourcesStrategyBackground
SAKIMA sought external capital and management support for its mining portfolio.
Action taken
SAKIMA signed an agreement under which Central African Resources promised a 36 million dollar investment, assumed mine-management responsibilities and received an option to acquire 80 percent of SAKIMA.
Aftermath
After disagreements over the pace of implementation and the leasing of deposits, the Ministry of Mines revoked the contract during the 2007–2008 review.
Promised investment. 36000000 USD (2003 agreement)
1998
Mining agreements are transferred to SOMICOStrategyBackground
The government and Banro disagreed over whether SAKIMA should invest broadly in cassiterite, coltan and gold assets or focus primarily on gold.
Action taken
The government revoked SAKIMA's mining agreements by presidential decree and transferred them to Société des Mines du Congo SARL.
Aftermath
Banro pursued international arbitration, and the dispute was eventually resolved through the 2002 settlement that restored SAKIMA as a wholly state-owned entity and assigned four gold mines to Banro.
Recent events
- 2022
Gold-refining arrangement involving Rwanda is revoked[2]
Regulation · Other
An arrangement announced in 2021 for gold from the SAKIMA-Dott venture to be refined by Rwanda-based Dither Ltd was revoked in June 2022 amid the renewed M23 offensive and worsening regional tensions.
- 2020
SAKIMA and Dott Services form Punia Kasese Mining venture[1]
M&A
SAKIMA and Ugandan company Dott Services agreed to establish Punia Kasese Mining to operate mining sites in Maniema Province, with proposed ownership of 30 percent for SAKIMA and 70 percent for Dott Services.
- 2008
Central African Resources contract revoked in mining review[1]
Regulation
The Central African Resources agreement was revoked during the Congolese Ministry of Mines' 2007–2008 review of mining contracts, following disagreement over the implementation of the arrangement and subsequent leasing of deposits.
- 2003
SAKIMA signs operating agreement with Central African Resources[1]
M&A
SAKIMA agreed to allow Central African Resources to manage its mines in return for a promised 36 million dollar investment and an option to acquire 80 percent of the company.
- 2002
Banro receives long-term interests in four gold mines[1]
Other
An out-of-court settlement restored SAKIMA as a wholly Congolese state-owned company and granted Banro a 30-year, 100-percent interest in the Twangiza, Kamituga, Lugushwa and Namoya gold mines.
- 1998
SAKIMA mining agreements revoked and concessions transferred[1]
Regulation · Other
The Congolese government revoked SAKIMA's mining agreements by presidential decree and transferred the concessions to Société des Mines du Congo SARL. The move followed a dispute with Banro over investment priorities and the scope of the company's mining program.
- 1998
Banro brings investment claim over SAKIMA concessions[1]
Lawsuit · Other
Banro initiated a billion-dollar claim at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes after the revocation of its interests. The dispute was later settled outside court.
Sources2 sources
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