Militiamen Take Over Abandoned Mining Sites in North Kivu
Several mining operators were forced to abandon their sites in Mangurujipa, located in the Lubero territory of North Kivu, according to reports received by MINES.CD on Friday, June 14, 2024, from local civil society groups.
Local sources indicated that numerous abandoned mining sites have fallen under the control of militiamen, who have increased taxes to the detriment of the operators.
“Most mining operators have abandoned their sites due to continuous harassment by Mayi-Mayi militiamen, who also identify themselves as Wazalendo.
These militiamen demand significant contributions from the operators, forcing them to withdraw. The militiamen are now exploiting these sites illegally on behalf of unknown entities,” stated Mbule Mandatex, civil society manager for the Bapere sector. He explained that this abandonment was primarily a safety measure by the operators.
“For their safety, they agreed to give up their mining sites and face unemployment. Many are now living in Mangurujipa-Centre with nothing to do. They are waiting for the situation to stabilize so they can return to their mining activities,” Mandatex added.
This situation has resulted in a loss of income for the Congolese state, which cannot collect any taxes from these mining sites now controlled by the militiamen, who operate without any official titles or licenses.
Mangurujipa is a gold-rich mining area. The sites were initially secured by Mayi-Mayi militiamen, who did not officially collect taxes but benefited from informal payments linked to their control over the area, according to several sources in the region.
