North Kivu Deputies Advocate for Formal Mining to Curb Armed Group Exploitation
North Kivu Officials Call for State Control of Mining to Boost Security and Local Developmenty
In response to the systematic exploitation of mineral resources by armed groups, North Kivu provincial deputies Christian Mafungula and His Majesty Abdoul Paluku Kalemire III are urging the state to regain control of the mining sector.
Their goal is to transform the red zones of Mughalika, Kavusu, and the Bapere area into centers of legitimate economic development.
The territories of Beni and Lubero highlight a stark paradox: abundant mineral wealth that, due to insufficient state oversight, fuels insecurity. To address this challenge, the two deputies met with Crispin Mbindule Mitono, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mining Cadastre (CAMI), proposing that CAMI direct credible investors to these strategic areas.
The initiative aims to dismantle illegal mining networks while creating direct employment opportunities for local communities. “We encouraged the PCA to channel potential investors toward North Kivu’s resource-rich areas. This is about generating jobs for our people and revenue for the Republic,” the deputies emphasized.
CAMI’s chairman welcomed the proposal, noting that it is under review and will be forwarded to higher authorities. The overarching objective is to ensure that local communities benefit directly from mining activities, ending the unregulated exploitation that currently enriches armed groups.
However, the success of this initiative depends on achieving a minimum level of security. The targeted areas remain under the control of armed groups such as the M23-RDF-AFC and the ADF, which profit from illicit mineral trade to finance their operations.
Acknowledging this, the deputies also called on Crispin Mbindule Mitono to leverage his political influence within the National Assembly, urging that the Minister of Defense provide explanations for the ongoing violence and occupation of mining areas.
For Mafungula and Paluku Kalemire, restoring security in eastern DRC is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any sustainable mining development. CAMI’s chairman pledged to ensure strict monitoring of the situation at both governmental and parliamentary levels, linking security directly to economic recovery.
