The governor of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province has suspended all mining activities in the region and ordered companies and operators to vacate mining sites.
Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki announced on Friday that the suspension, effective immediately and lasting until further notice, was due to “disorder caused by the mining operators,” without providing further details.
“All companies, businesses, and cooperatives are required to leave the sites and operating locations within 72 hours,” Sadiki stated.
This decision will significantly impact artisanal miners of metals such as gold and tin, who dominate the region’s production.
Jean Pierre Okenda, an analyst specializing in governance within Congo’s extractive sector, criticized the decision as illegal and an abuse of power. He urged Congo’s mines minister to promptly intervene and lift the ban.
In a separate statement, Governor Sadiki called for a meeting with mining operators on July 30 to assess the situation.
“If artisanal mining is banned, the whole province will be penalized. This activity is what keeps people alive and business going,” said Innocent Watuta Ibungu, a mining operator.
