On Friday, the governor of South Kivu in eastern Congo announced a suspension of all mining operations to “restore order” in the region, which is rich in minerals but plagued by armed group violence.
Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki issued the order due to “disorder caused by mining operators,” without elaborating further. The goal is to “restore order to mining activities across the province” and to safeguard human lives and the traceability of mineral production.
Authorities have given mining companies, businesses, and cooperatives 72 hours to vacate the sites. The implementation of this order is uncertain, as some areas are under the control of armed groups, and its economic impact remains unclear. Thousands of locals depend on mining for their livelihoods in this gold- and coltan-rich province.
South Kivu, part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has faced ongoing violence from armed groups for nearly 30 years. The security situation has worsened recently amid military operations against militias.
In eastern Congo, frequent attacks on quarries and mining cooperatives are driven by competition among over 120 armed groups for land and resources. Earlier this month, a militia raid on a gold mine in Ituri province killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese soldiers.
In August 2021, the former governor of South Kivu implemented a suspension of mining activities in the Mwenga region, approximately 100 kilometers from Bukavu, to “restore order” and protect “local interests and the environment.” This suspension, which affected six Chinese mining firms, was later lifted under political pressure. A parliamentary inquiry was initiated but never concluded with published results.
The government was negotiating a better deal on a $6.2 billion mining contract with China, which had been deemed unprofitable since its 2008 agreement.
Transparency issues in the exploitation and sale of Congolese gold are a recurring concern, with U.N. experts reporting that smuggled gold volumes greatly exceed legal exports.
Bienvenu Mapendo, president of the Federation of Congolese Enterprises in South Kivu, warned that the new suspension could harm the province’s economy. “The decision will likely have a negative impact on the province and the communities reliant on mining,” he said. “We need to meet with provincial authorities to understand the reasons for this decision.”