Lualaba Assembly Calls for Urgent Return of Artisanal Mining Zones to Miners
Lualaba Provincial Assembly Urges Immediate Restoration of Artisanal Mining Zones to Address Mining Sector Tensions
Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo — Facing growing unrest in the mining sector, the Lualaba Provincial Assembly has called for urgent action to return artisanal mining zones (ZEA) to local miners.
At the opening of its September 2025 session, Assembly President Jean-Marie Kaseya described the situation as “shameful” and insisted it must change immediately.
Incidents Highlight Deep Social Tensions
Recent incidents of looting have exposed deep dissatisfaction among artisanal miners, who lack legal access to mining sites. For President Kaseya, this reflects a failure by local authorities to safeguard miners’ rights.
“Our compatriots are suffering, and we cannot allow this situation to continue,” Kaseya stated emphatically.
Formation of a Special Commission
To address the crisis, the Provincial Assembly has established a special commission tasked with collaborating closely with the provincial government to identify and restore ZEAs to artisanal miners.
President Kaseya indicated that the Assembly might take a more direct approach by liaising with the Mining Registry in Kinshasa to trace all areas originally designated for artisanal mining.
A Vision for Stability and Inclusive Growth
This initiative aims to ease social tensions and ensure that Lualaba’s mineral wealth benefits local communities first. By prioritising artisanal miners, the Provincial Assembly seeks to preserve stability and promote inclusive development in one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s most resource-rich provinces.
