Ten (10) Chinese nationals are detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for being involved in illegal mining operations in South Kivu. According to the Congolese Ministry of Justice which disclosed the news on January 10, the arrest is part of broader efforts by several African countries to combat illegal mining. Last month, 17 Chinese nationals had been arrested for the same reasons, in the same region.

#RDC_MINES | 🚨⚖️ COMMUNIQUÉ DU MINISTÈRE DE LA JUSTICE @JusticeGouvCD.

Ce communiqué fait suite à l'appréhension d'étrangers impliqués dans l'exploitation illicite de minerais au Sud-Kivu.@kizpaka @shabani_lukoo @VPM_MINTERSECAC @ConstantMutamba #CellComMINES pic.twitter.com/TB9EiO0G7C

— Ministère des Mines - RDC (@MinMinesRDC) January 11, 2025

Regarding the recent arrest, the Minister of Justice has instructed the Prosecutor General of the South Kivu Court of Appeal to initiate proceedings against those arrested and their accomplices.

A major issue, illegal mining in the DRC costs the country billions annually. Institutional weaknesses, internal complicity, and inadequate oversight exacerbate the issue. Chinese companies are often accused of failing to comply with the Congolese mining code, including operating without valid permits, neglecting environmental impact studies, and refusing to engage with local communities.

Despite these arrests, illegal activities by foreign mining companies, particularly Chinese ones, persist. In August 2021, six Chinese companies were forbidden from operating in South Kivu. They were accused of illegal mining and environmental damage. Unfortunately, it is hard to implement the decisions due to complicity within political and military elites. These alliances undermine governance efforts and hinder the effective implementation of administrative, social, and environmental certification processes advocated by the government. Additionally, the militarization of mining sites often benefits these companies, leading to violence against civilians.

This article was initially published in French by Olivier de Souza

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho