South Kivu Governor Exposes True Routes of Illicit Mineral Exports
During his address to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly on April 2, 2025, the Governor of South Kivu Province, Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, shed light on the growing issue of illicit mineral exploitation in his region. He refuted widely held assumptions about the destination of these illegally mined resources.
“Contrary to claims that 90% of South Kivu’s illicit mineral production goes to China, our data shows otherwise,” the governor stated. “About 67% is exported to the Middle East—specifically Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—while less than 2% reaches Europe. The remainder goes to China.”
Governor Sadiki’s remarks stand in contrast to a recent study by former French Ambassador to the DRC, Pierre Jacquemot, which cited the United States as the primary destination for conflict minerals from eastern DRC.
These resources, the study noted, fuel the supply chains of major tech companies such as Tesla, Apple, Motorola, Intel, HP, BlackBerry, and Nokia.
In response to rampant illegal mining, the South Kivu provincial government took decisive action. On July 18, 2024, it suspended all mining operations in the province.
During enforcement of the suspension, authorities expected to identify 400 illegal operators but were stunned when 1,600 entities came forward.
“Many of these companies had been operating for eight to ten years without paying taxes, registering their businesses, or holding any valid permits,” said Sadiki. “They had no offices, no legal status—yet they were actively mining and exporting minerals.”
The governor also highlighted the prominent role of Chinese nationals in illegal mining operations. In December 2024, 17 Chinese citizens arrested for illegal mining were released by the Bukavu High Court. On January 14, 2025, three others were sentenced to seven years of penal servitude for similar offenses.
However, just a week later, ten Chinese nationals were acquitted in a separate case—an outcome that raises concerns about collusion between foreign operators and certain Congolese officials.
The governor’s testimony underscores the urgent need for greater international accountability and stronger enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal mineral exploitation in South Kivu and across the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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