Chinese Nationals Sentenced to Prison and Fines for Illegal Mining and Money Laundering in DRC
A Congolese court has sentenced three Chinese nationals to seven years in prison after they were arrested with gold bars and $400,000 in cash, found guilty of illegal activities linked to the country’s artisanal mining sector.
This trial marks a significant step in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ongoing efforts to combat unlicensed mineral extraction.
The three men are the first Chinese nationals to stand trial since Congo intensified its crackdown on illegal mining in the resource-rich, conflict-stricken east.
Christian Wanduma, a lawyer representing local communities, described the trial as “educational” and hoped it would serve as a warning to others.
“This is a wake-up call to all Chinese nationals who think they can come to Congo and operate without consequences,” Wanduma stated.
The court in Bukavu, South Kivu’s capital, found the defendants guilty of money laundering, illegal mineral possession and purchase, and other related charges.
In addition to their prison sentences, the defendants were fined $600,000 and permanently banned from entering the country once their sentences are completed.
However, the court acquitted them of fraud and illegal mineral extraction due to lack of evidence. Despite pleading guilty to four of the charges, the defendants claimed they were unaware they were violating Congolese law before their arrest on January 4. Their legal team plans to appeal the verdict.
Congo has faced ongoing challenges with illegal mining operations by both local armed groups and unlicensed foreign companies, particularly Chinese-owned firms, that exploit the country’s rich deposits of cobalt, copper, gold, and other minerals.
Protests erupted in Bukavu last week after Chinese nationals arrested for suspected illegal mining in a separate case were released.
Civil society leaders, including Nene Bintu, voiced frustration, highlighting the widespread poverty and lack of basic services despite the country’s mineral wealth. In 2021, authorities banned six Chinese-owned mining companies accused of operating illegally in Congo.
