Three Chinese citizens have been sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $600,000 for illegal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This marks the first time foreign mineral brokers have been convicted of unauthorized illegal mining in the DRC.
The defendants were also convicted of fraud, money laundering, and looting. It is currently unclear whether they will remain detained in the eastern city of Bukavu or be transferred elsewhere.
The three Chinese citizens were arrested on January 4 while in possession of 10 gold bars and $400,000 in cash.
Their lawyer stated that they plan to appeal the verdict, claiming it is unjust. Lawyer Arsène Mwaka told the Associated Press over the phone, “Our clients are dissatisfied with the outcome of the verdict.”
However, lawyers representing the victims deemed the judgment as having educational significance and expressed hope that the case would act as a deterrent for future illegal mining activities in the DRC.
“The court’s judgment is an educationally significant ruling,” prosecutor Christian Wanduma told the Associated Press over the phone, adding that it should serve as a warning to other foreigners engaging in undocumented business activities.
The DRC is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mineral trafficking. In June last year, authorities discovered that 547 companies were operating illegally in South Kivu province.
In July of the same year, all mining activities in the province were temporarily suspended to curb illegal mineral trafficking. It is believed that such illicit activities not only harm the natural environment but also encroach upon wildlife reserves.
Many Chinese companies mine for gold and other minerals in South Kivu. The province has been plagued by armed violence for nearly three decades.
Due to more than 120 armed groups vying for land and resources in eastern Congo, mining sites and cooperatives in the region are frequently attacked. In 2022, a Congolese employee of a Chinese mining company in South Kivu was killed during an armed robbery.
In 2021, the Congolese government halted the operations of six Chinese mining companies in South Kivu province for operating without proper authorization.
The government of the DRC has stated that it is working on revising mining contracts worth $6.2 billion signed with Beijing. The DRC claims that since signing the contract in 2008, it has not received sufficient profits from the Central African country.
“Combatting illegal mineral trafficking is a major challenge facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This requires close cooperation between authorities, local communities, and mining companies to ensure sustainable and equitable exploitation of mineral resources,” said environmental activist Elie Mulume.
(This article is based on relevant reports from the Associated Press)