Armed Presence Disrupts Artisanal Mining in Walikale
Artisanal mining operations in Walikale territory, North Kivu, are facing serious disruptions due to the involvement of soldiers and members of the Wazalendo militia, despite clear prohibitions under the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining code.
Civil society groups and traditional chiefs have raised concerns over the growing presence of armed actors at mining sites, particularly in the Utunda group of the Wanianga sector.
These groups report that soldiers and militias are not just providing protection—they are actively participating in the artisanal extraction of gold and cassiterite by digging wells and operating pits themselves.
Shemwiso Bitashimwa Jean, administrative secretary of the Utunda group, warns that this militarization is undermining the very purpose of artisanal mining, which is meant to empower local communities.
“The presence of armed men in mining activities distorts the system and blocks development,” he said.
“Instead of supporting local initiatives, they are turning mining into a competition for control and profit.”
The Walikale Development Studies and Support Office (BEDEWA), a civil society organization focused on resource governance, also reports that armed interference is intensifying in other areas.
Maître Obedi Kamala, BEDEWA’s coordinator, said two rival armed groups are clashing over the management of artisanal mining sites in the Bafuna group.
“This threatens to discredit validated mining zones and scare away any efforts at formalization,” he added.
Local mining officials confirm these concerns. Jérémie Kisangula, deputy head of the mining service in Wanianga, acknowledged the presence of soldiers at artisanal sites but noted that awareness campaigns are underway to educate all stakeholders on the legal limits of their roles.
“We are seeing progress—armed actors are slowly realizing that mining is not part of their mission,” he said.
Despite these positive signs, the involvement of armed groups continues to pose a serious challenge to the regulation and sustainability of artisanal mining in Walikale, raising questions about the long-term prospects of community-led resource development in the region.
