Haut-Uele Governor Cracks Down on Irregular Mining Operations Backed by Chinese Expatriates
The provincial government of Haut-Uele has responded to numerous complaints from local communities regarding unregulated, large-scale semi-industrial mining activities conducted by cooperatives, many of which are supported by Chinese expatriates.
During a face-to-face meeting with local journalists on Sunday, Governor Jean Bakomito Gambu, who recently returned from a two-week mission in the gold-rich Watsa territory, announced plans to address these concerns.
Governor Bakomito emphasized that this initiative is the first step in a series of stringent measures his administration intends to implement to restore order in the mining sector and address the grievances of residents. For nearly five years, the people of Haut-Uele have witnessed environmental destruction, water pollution, and loss of life due to irresponsible mining practices, with little to no compensation.
“This is a pressing issue that we must address with the utmost responsibility,” the governor stated. “To begin, we are registering all foreign operators and cooperatives in this sector, many of whom are operating illegally.
This process includes verifying their legal status, exploitation sites, production statistics, and their commitment to socio-community projects. Those who fail to comply will face temporary suspension of their activities,” he warned.
Governor Bakomito also highlighted the lack of contribution from these operators to the province’s development, noting that their tax payments are minimal compared to the scale of their operations. “In our provincial coffers, we see little to no contribution from these operators.
They pay some taxes here and there, but it amounts to just 2% of what they should be paying. Meanwhile, the environment and water sources are being severely damaged.”
The governor pointed out that the mining activities backed by Chinese expatriates have never been accepted by the local population. Artisanal miners are often harassed and even killed within these mining perimeters.
In addition, abandoned and unfilled wells have claimed the lives of at least 17 people since Bakomito took office a month and a half ago.
He described the situation across the province as catastrophic and vowed to work with the justice system to enforce mining regulations, which mandate site restoration after exploitation.
Last week, in Makoro, Faradje territory, Governor Bakomito ordered the immediate cessation of operations by mining cooperatives that were operating without following proper procedures and causing significant harm to local residents’ fields.
