Frank
Top 20
Lualaba: The illegal exploitation of a mine in Kisankala
Following the latest events observed during the violent demonstrations that took place in the village of Kisankala, in the province of Lualaba, on May 18 and 19, 2023, MCP tried to understand the origin of such situations where civilians, demonstrators, been victims of gunfire.
Indeed, we learned, on the spot, that these demonstrations originated from a malaise within the population and mainly within the community of artisanal diggers driven out of certain sites where they used to dig for the benefit of operators of Lebanese nationality.
Tensions reportedly mounted as soon as a young woman was injured by a bullet fired in her leg as gunmen pushed protesters back from sites they were securing.
The most radical of the demonstrators attacked machines and trucks to set them on fire and thus block the activities on the exploitation sites that some call Kalakundi, Sierra or even Motopompe.
Because of this social crisis and this violence, a delegation from the provincial government, led by the Minister of Mines, hastened to the scene the next day to calm people down and promise the diggers that they could work in certain areas of these sites in good agreement with the said Lebanese operators.
Unfortunately, we have seen yet another violent incident between diggers and an industrial mining operator, almost a commonplace case since such situations have been experienced in the province of Lualaba, except that when we study the situation in more depth, we realize that it is a much more disturbing and sensitive fact than that.
The so-called places of Kalakundi, Sierra and Motopompe, are mining areas which are located within a mining perimeter known to the mining cadastre as being the exploitation permit n ° 591 whose holder is the mining company Swanmines, resulting from a partnership between the company Africo Resources DRC and the GCM.
With this information, we took the initiative to contact the representatives of the mining company, holder of the titles, to have their position on these dramatic events in their perimeters.
Although these representatives did not want a direct interview, they nevertheless informed that the perimeter concerned is the subject of industrial spoliation by the said Lebanese operators who have been operating illegally in the sites of Kalakundi, pumping station and Sierra since several months and their protection is ensured by armed elements.
They explain that these illegal operators took over sites by violence and threats via armed men who literally attacked the security guards who were then in post, several months ago.
The reality is that the artisanal mining concession in the perimeter has existed since 2016. But these operators have been driven out and replaced by these new industrial "spoilers".
Complaints have been lodged with the provincial and national authorities, as well as the military, but also at the level of the Palais de la Nation, without however seeing a single concrete action against the despoiling operators, nor the receivers of the stolen minerals that are certain well-known Chinese factories in Lualaba and Katanga.
A legal action would be opened with the general prosecutor's office.
But there too, according to them, it is clear that the operators are so protected that they allow themselves, with their armed men, to oppose any action by the prosecution on the ground.
We hope that the supreme authority and justice will intervene.
"Today, more than 200 trucks of ore leave the deposit a day without any competent authority being concerned," said a company security officer.
The various sources approached, both in the community and within the Swanmines company, all report that it is public knowledge that these operations are organized under the guise of people claiming to be close to power.
They believe they benefit from total impunity from the military and civilian authorities.
One therefore wonders how a provincial minister can promise artisanal diggers and their operators the sharing and exploitation of the sites of the Swanmines company, holder of the PE591 perimeter?
Why is a mining company, holder of mining rights, paying its rights, unable to receive echoes of its complaints to obtain assistance from the competent provincial and national authorities?
How do artisan diggers manage to rise up and burn mining gear after being subjected to an extremely violent push back from the Swanmines concession, without the concessionaire himself being called in to argue before the provincial authorities of the incident observed within its scope?
Why do so many people approached and met tell us that this industrial exploitation is organized for the interests of family members?
Why do the civil and military authorities not seem to respond to letters and requests from Swanmines management?
The events of May 19 are only the tip of the iceberg.
Other incidents are to be feared, because many questions remain open and sensitive in a context where the President of the Republic is shouting at improving the business climate and fighting corruption at all levels.
mediacongo
Looks / sounds like another case of "Who knows Who" in the DRC
"Who's Up Who" - "Who Paid Who & Who Didn't" to me
I could be Wrong, but i doubt it
Food for thought
Frank
Following the latest events observed during the violent demonstrations that took place in the village of Kisankala, in the province of Lualaba, on May 18 and 19, 2023, MCP tried to understand the origin of such situations where civilians, demonstrators, been victims of gunfire.
Indeed, we learned, on the spot, that these demonstrations originated from a malaise within the population and mainly within the community of artisanal diggers driven out of certain sites where they used to dig for the benefit of operators of Lebanese nationality.
Tensions reportedly mounted as soon as a young woman was injured by a bullet fired in her leg as gunmen pushed protesters back from sites they were securing.
The most radical of the demonstrators attacked machines and trucks to set them on fire and thus block the activities on the exploitation sites that some call Kalakundi, Sierra or even Motopompe.
Because of this social crisis and this violence, a delegation from the provincial government, led by the Minister of Mines, hastened to the scene the next day to calm people down and promise the diggers that they could work in certain areas of these sites in good agreement with the said Lebanese operators.
Unfortunately, we have seen yet another violent incident between diggers and an industrial mining operator, almost a commonplace case since such situations have been experienced in the province of Lualaba, except that when we study the situation in more depth, we realize that it is a much more disturbing and sensitive fact than that.
The so-called places of Kalakundi, Sierra and Motopompe, are mining areas which are located within a mining perimeter known to the mining cadastre as being the exploitation permit n ° 591 whose holder is the mining company Swanmines, resulting from a partnership between the company Africo Resources DRC and the GCM.
With this information, we took the initiative to contact the representatives of the mining company, holder of the titles, to have their position on these dramatic events in their perimeters.
Although these representatives did not want a direct interview, they nevertheless informed that the perimeter concerned is the subject of industrial spoliation by the said Lebanese operators who have been operating illegally in the sites of Kalakundi, pumping station and Sierra since several months and their protection is ensured by armed elements.
They explain that these illegal operators took over sites by violence and threats via armed men who literally attacked the security guards who were then in post, several months ago.
The reality is that the artisanal mining concession in the perimeter has existed since 2016. But these operators have been driven out and replaced by these new industrial "spoilers".
Complaints have been lodged with the provincial and national authorities, as well as the military, but also at the level of the Palais de la Nation, without however seeing a single concrete action against the despoiling operators, nor the receivers of the stolen minerals that are certain well-known Chinese factories in Lualaba and Katanga.
A legal action would be opened with the general prosecutor's office.
But there too, according to them, it is clear that the operators are so protected that they allow themselves, with their armed men, to oppose any action by the prosecution on the ground.
We hope that the supreme authority and justice will intervene.
"Today, more than 200 trucks of ore leave the deposit a day without any competent authority being concerned," said a company security officer.
The various sources approached, both in the community and within the Swanmines company, all report that it is public knowledge that these operations are organized under the guise of people claiming to be close to power.
They believe they benefit from total impunity from the military and civilian authorities.
One therefore wonders how a provincial minister can promise artisanal diggers and their operators the sharing and exploitation of the sites of the Swanmines company, holder of the PE591 perimeter?
Why is a mining company, holder of mining rights, paying its rights, unable to receive echoes of its complaints to obtain assistance from the competent provincial and national authorities?
How do artisan diggers manage to rise up and burn mining gear after being subjected to an extremely violent push back from the Swanmines concession, without the concessionaire himself being called in to argue before the provincial authorities of the incident observed within its scope?
Why do so many people approached and met tell us that this industrial exploitation is organized for the interests of family members?
Why do the civil and military authorities not seem to respond to letters and requests from Swanmines management?
The events of May 19 are only the tip of the iceberg.
Other incidents are to be feared, because many questions remain open and sensitive in a context where the President of the Republic is shouting at improving the business climate and fighting corruption at all levels.
mediacongo
Looks / sounds like another case of "Who knows Who" in the DRC
"Who's Up Who" - "Who Paid Who & Who Didn't" to me
I could be Wrong, but i doubt it
Food for thought
Frank
Last edited:
