Nioka Mining Site Freed from Illegal Occupation by Artisanal Miners
After two weeks of illegal occupation, the Nioka mining site was finally liberated on Thursday, December 19, 2024, following the deployment of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). The operation’s success was confirmed by multiple media outlets in Lualaba.
While police intervention led to violent clashes, sources report that the artisanal miners voluntarily vacated the site after demolishing the walls of the fence.
The FARDC had been stationed in the area on orders from the provincial authorities to prevent further incursions, according to Maître Christian Kakele, legal advisor to Tondo Mining Company, who helped mediate the situation and persuade the miners to leave.
“We will work with the provincial authorities to create a relocation plan for those who need to leave,” Kakele stated.
Several sources confirm that Governor Fifi Masuka Saini played a crucial role in facilitating communication between the mining site owners and the illegal miners.
