A Buyer’s Due-Diligence Checklist for Sourcing Gold from Africa

Almost every problem in the gold trade traces back to a step that was skipped. A disciplined gold due diligence checklist fixes that: it turns a high-value, high-risk purchase into a series of simple, verifiable checks. Work through this checklist before you commit to any gold deal in Africa, and you will screen out the risky sellers and transact with confidence. Save it, print it, and use it on every transaction.

It is written from the perspective of a licensed exporter that documents every shipment from the DRC and Uganda. For the full narrative version, see our pillar guide on how to buy gold in Africa safely.

How to use this checklist

Go through each section in order. If a supplier cannot satisfy an item – or resists a reasonable request – treat it as a warning and slow down. A legitimate, licensed supplier will meet every point on this list without hesitation.

1. Supplier verification

• Is the supplier a registered company with a verifiable company registration number?
• Does it have a physical address and named officers you can identify?
• Are contact details consistent across the website, documents and invoices?
• Can you find independent evidence the company exists and operates?

More on this in our guide to identifying a legitimate, licensed DRC exporter.

2. Licensing and documentation

• Can the supplier evidence its licence/authorisation to export?
• Will you receive a certificate of origin for your specific shipment?
• Are the full export documents available – export permit, commercial/proforma invoice, packing list?
• Is a declaration of non-criminal origin provided?

See the full set in our gold export procedure guide.

3. Purity and assay

• Is a pre-export assay report provided, stating weight and purity (22K, 23K or 24K)?
• For cast bars, is there a serial-numbered bar list?
• Does the three-way match hold – bar serial = bar list = assay report?
• Can you arrange independent or refinery testing before settlement?

Learn to read the report in our guide on verifying 999.9 gold.

4. Payment safety

• Is payment made to a verified company beneficiary named in the contract, not a personal account?
• Have you confirmed beneficiary details directly and rejected any last-minute changes?
• Can payment be staged against milestones rather than paid entirely up front?
• Have you avoided advance “fees” demanded before documentation?

5. Logistics and insurance

• Is the consignment insured for the full journey under a clear Incoterm?
• Is it carried by a reputable, secure operator with end-to-end tracking?
• Will an Air Waybill be issued to you before dispatch?
• Is the settlement basis clear – typically final assay at your nominated refinery?

See our guides on gold Incoterms and insured gold logistics.

6. Responsible sourcing and compliance

• Can the supplier evidence a documented chain of custody?
• Is its due diligence aligned with OECD guidance?
• Have both parties completed KYC/AML onboarding?
• Is the gold demonstrably conflict-free and responsibly sourced?

More in our guides on conflict-free gold suppliers and KYC for gold buyers.

7. Import and destination

• Have you confirmed your destination’s import rules and duties?
• Do you know who is the importer of record?
• Is your documentation sufficient for customs clearance at destination?

See our guide on gold import regulations (UAE, EU, US, China).

The one rule behind the whole checklist

If you remember nothing else: verify before you pay, and never settle on a claim. Every item above exists to replace trust with evidence. A supplier who welcomes these checks is one you can build a relationship with; a supplier who resists them is telling you something important.

How Congo Rare Minerals meets every item

Congo Rare Minerals (Reg. No. CD 893220) is built around this checklist: a registered, verifiable company; licensed export with certificate of origin and full documentation; pre-export assay and serial-numbered bar lists with support for independent testing; payment to a verified beneficiary; insured, tracked logistics through the documented Uganda/Tanzania corridor; OECD-aligned due diligence and documented chain of custody; and settlement on final refinery assay. We supply gold in 22K, 23K and 24K (most commonly 22K and 23K). Review our operations on the About page.

Frequently asked questions

What is gold due diligence?

Gold due diligence is the process of verifying every part of a gold transaction before committing – the supplier, licensing, documentation, purity, payment, logistics and compliance – so you replace trust with evidence and avoid fraud or non-compliant gold.

What should a gold due diligence checklist include?

Supplier verification, licensing and documentation, purity and assay, payment safety, logistics and insurance, responsible sourcing and compliance, and import/destination checks.

How do I vet a gold supplier in Africa?

Confirm the company registration, address and named officers; require licensing, certificate of origin and assay documentation; check the three-way match; and confirm responsible sourcing and insured logistics before payment.

What is the most important due-diligence step?

Verifying before you pay and never settling on a verbal claim – insist on an assay report and independent testing, and pay only a verified beneficiary against documented steps.

Why does responsible sourcing belong on the checklist?

Because undocumented or irresponsibly sourced gold exposes you to legal, banking and reputational risk. OECD-aligned due diligence and a documented chain of custody protect you.

Does Congo Rare Minerals meet this checklist?

Yes – it is registered and verifiable, exports with full documentation, provides assay and bar lists, supports independent testing, ships insured and tracked, applies OECD-aligned due diligence, and settles on refinery assay.