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Buying Gold from the DRC: Certification, Due Diligence and the Risks

Commodities, Agriculture & Raw Materials Trade By wigmoretrading April 23, 2023
Buying Gold from the DRC: Certification, Due Diligence and the Risks

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Minerals · DR Congo gold

Buying gold from the DRC: what a legal deal looks like

Updated October 2026Reading time 7 minBy Wigmore Trading
Due diligence firstSanctions screened

The Democratic Republic of Congo has a lot of gold, and buyers search for it every day. But most of it is mined artisanally in the east, much of it leaves the country informally, and some has funded armed groups. A legal purchase is possible only with full certification and due diligence. Anything else exposes you to fraud, seizure and sanctions.

3TGgold is a conflict mineral under OECD guidance
ICGLRregional certificate for each legal export
Artisanalmost eastern DRC gold
Sanctionsseveral DRC gold traders are designated
Licensed exporter

A comptoir or exporter licensed by the DRC mining authorities.

Traceable origin

Gold traced to a validated mine site, with chain-of-custody records.

National certification

Assay, valuation and certification by the DRC’s national certification body before export.

ICGLR certificate

A regional certificate for the shipment under the Great Lakes Regional Certification Mechanism.

Buyer due diligence

OECD due diligence and sanctions screening of every counterparty.

Our position

We don’t buy uncertified DRC artisanal gold, and we screen every counterparty against UK, US and EU sanctions lists. If you have a DRC gold offer, send it to us to check before you pay anything.

Red flagsGold offered far below the world price, “diplomatic” shipments, sellers who won’t allow independent assay, and requests for upfront fees for certificates or insurance. These are the hallmarks of fraud.

Have a DRC gold offer? Let us check it

Send us what you have been offered. We will tell you whether it can be legal before you pay anything.

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Sources: BGR on the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism; OECD due diligence guidance for minerals from conflict-affected areas. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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FAQs

Questions buyers ask us

Is it legal to buy gold from the DRC?
Yes, from licensed exporters with national certification and an ICGLR certificate, after proper due diligence. Uncertified artisanal gold carries serious legal and sanctions risk.
What is the ICGLR certificate?
A regional certificate issued for 3TG mineral exports from Great Lakes countries, confirming the shipment met the regional certification standards.
Why is DRC gold risky?
Much of it is mined and traded informally, some has funded armed groups, and several traders are under sanctions.
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