Sama Lukonde and Chinese Ambassador investigate illicit activities of Chinese companies in the DRC
The Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, received in audience, on Saturday September 4 at the government building in Kinshasa, the Chinese ambassador in the DRC, Mr. Zhu Jing, following the accusations on the existence alleged illicit activities of Chinese mining companies operating underground in mining sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Speaking at the end of this hearing, the Chinese diplomat said he was concerned about these accusations. He said he was in favor of a “mixed investigation” to verify the veracity of these allegations on the ground.
Mr Zhu Jing, convinced of the sincerity of cooperation between Kinshasa and Beijing, expects to collaborate with the competent services of the DRC to shed light on this issue.
Recall that following the dissemination of an investigative magazine, foreign media and certain Congolese state services which revealed cases of illegal mining in the provinces in eastern DRC. Prime Minister Sama Lukonde, during the Council of Ministers held on Friday, September 3, called on the Government to “crack down on the perpetrators of this situation” which is also facilitated by the presence of armed groups which prevent State control. To this end, the Head of Government invited the Ministers in charge of the Interior, Justice and Mines to take the necessary measures to “closely monitor this situation”.
