South Kivu Governor Links Prolonged Conflict in Eastern DRC to Strategic Mineral Wealth

Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Says Vast Mineral Resources Are Driving Decades-Long War in Eastern DRC

The governor of South Kivu province has provided new insights into the long-running conflict that has persisted for nearly three decades in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), linking the violence directly to the region’s vast mineral wealth.

Speaking to journalists during a special press briefing organized on Thursday by the Minister of Communication and Media and government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, Governor Jean‑Jacques Purusi stated that the ongoing instability in eastern Congo is closely tied to the strategic minerals found in the region.

According to the governor, the eastern provinces of the country and South Kivu in particular possess exceptional natural resources that have made the area a focal point of economic and geopolitical competition.

“The eastern provinces of Congo, in general, and South Kivu province in particular, hold incredible riches,” he said. “Research conducted for academic studies has shown that South Kivu is significantly richer in strategic minerals than what the former Greater Katanga region once accumulated.”

He explained that only a portion of the province’s mineral resources has been exploited so far.

Currently, approximately 30% of the known resources including cassiterite, coltan, gold, and wolframite have been extracted or are in the process of being exploited.

This means that an estimated 70% of the province’s mineral potential remains untapped, representing a substantial economic opportunity but also a source of continued tension.

Untapped Strategic Resources

Governor Purusi further stated that confirmed and certified deposits of additional strategic minerals remain largely unexplored.

These include:

• Lithium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Manganese
• Tungsten
• Titanium
• Methane gas
• Oil resources

According to provincial authorities, these resources have been verified through geological sampling but have not yet been developed on an industrial scale.

Crackdown on Illegal Mining Operations

The governor also recalled a major policy decision taken by provincial authorities in response to illegal mining activities.

On July 18, 2024, the provincial government ordered the suspension of all mining operations across South Kivu in an effort to identify and regulate companies operating without proper authorization.

During this process, authorities reportedly identified approximately 1,750 mining companies financed by Chinese capital operating in the Walungu territory alone.

The governor alleged that many of these companies lacked formal offices in the province and did not possess the required work permits, operating licenses, or exploration authorizations.

He further claimed that some of these companies had been active in the region for 15 to 20 years without full regulatory compliance.

According to his estimates, the minimum production level for each company involved in gold extraction could reach around 650 kilograms of gold per month.

Based on current international market prices, where gold trades at roughly $160,000 per kilogram, the economic value of such production would be extremely significant.

The governor also alleged that a number of these operations were managed from outside the Democratic Republic of Congo, including from neighboring countries.

A Conflict Driven by Resources

The statements by Governor Purusi reinforce a widely held view among policymakers and security analysts: that the prolonged conflict in eastern DRC is deeply intertwined with the control and exploitation of natural resources.

In this context, strengthening governance in the mining sector, formalizing operations, and securing supply chains are increasingly seen as critical steps toward stabilizing the region and ensuring that mineral wealth contributes to national development rather than conflict.