DRC President Urged to Address Chinese Mining Pollution at China-Africa Forum

Félix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), visited Beijing, China, to participate in the 9th edition of the China-Africa Forum, which took place from September 4th to 6th, 2024. The forum brought together several African Heads of State.

During the forum, President Tshisekedi engaged in discussions with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, focusing on key areas of cooperation, particularly in the Congolese mining sector, where Chinese companies have a significant presence.

In an interview with, Léonard Zama, coordinator of a civil society organization in Greater Katanga, urged President Tshisekedi to address the severe pollution caused by Chinese mining companies in the city of Kolwezi.

“The victims have been left without justice; houses are cracking, cemeteries are being destroyed, and the use of explosives is rampant.

The city of Kolwezi is on the brink of collapse: people have been driven from their fields, and today, we wonder if the President has gathered information from the affected areas to advocate for an end to this pollution,” Zama emphasized.

He further stressed the importance of President Tshisekedi’s participation in the summit, given China’s dominant role as an investor in the DRC’s mining sector.

“This is a crucial opportunity for the President to raise concerns about the environmental damage caused by these companies,” he added.

Despite the substantial profits generated by mining companies from the exploitation of Congolese minerals, particularly in Kolwezi, local workers remain underpaid.

“Workers in these Chinese companies earn wages that are insufficient to meet their basic needs, even though they work tirelessly,” Zama criticized.

He also pointed out that the mining sector is the primary source of pollution in Kolwezi, describing the environmental impact as immense.