Mineral-rich province in Democratic Republic of Congo suspends mining activities
BUKAVU—Authorities in one of the most mineral-rich provinces in east Democratic Republic of Congo announced on Friday the suspension of all mining activities to “restore order” in the sector.
South Kivu is rich in minerals including gold, cassiterite and coltan that is mined by foreign companies, notably Chinese ones.
Mining in this part of Congo (Kinshasa) has long been plagued by violence from armed groups and mineral trafficking to neighboring countries, such as Rwanda.Authorities have previously taken steps to counter the problem, but with little effect.
The governor of the province Jean-Jacques Purusi “wants to restore order in the exploitation of minerals,” a member of the governorate’s communications unit, Danny Bashige, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Purusi—who has been in his role since June—hopes this will improve “the traceability” of production and “maximize revenues” from the province.
“The state services authorized to operate in mining sites no longer know how to properly carry out their missions following the disorder caused by operators,” a provincial decree dated July 18 and released on Friday said.
Required to leave
“All activities related to mining are suspended throughout the province,” it read.
The decree added that all companies, businesses and cooperatives “are required to leave the sites and places of operation within 72 hours.”
In a separate statement provincial authorities said they would convene a meeting with mining companies and “their partner cooperatives” on July 30 at the governor’s office.
The meeting would discuss “inventory of the mining in the province” and “modalities of regularization of mining.”
“Given the urgency and importance of the meeting, no absence will be tolerated,” the statement read.
“We welcome the decision of the provincial governor and invite him to go all the way (to restore order),” said Tibere Kajemba from the Governance and Peace Observatory, an organisation specialising in mining issues. —AFP
