DRC: Three Chinese Nationals Sentenced to Seven Years for Illegal Mining

Three Chinese nationals receive seven-year prison sentences in the Democratic Republic of Congo for illegal mining activities, as the country intensifies efforts to protect its natural resources.

According to court filings, on Tuesday three Chinese nationals were sentenced to 7 years in prison and fined $600,000 for the illegal exploitation of mineral resources in Congo.

This ruling represents the first instance of foreign mineral brokers being convicted for unauthorized mineral exploitation in the DRC without permission from Congolese authorities.

The defendants were additionally convicted of fraud, money laundering, and looting. It remains uncertain whether they will stay in the eastern city of Bukavu, where they are currently detained, or if they will be relocated to a different location.

On January 4, they were apprehended with ten gold bars and $400,000 in cash.

The defendants’ lawyers plan to appeal, arguing that the judgment is unjustified.

“Our clients are dissatisfied with the judgment,” Arsène Mwaka, one of the defendants’ lawyers, said to The Associated Press during a phone call.

The lawyers for the victims praised the verdict as “educational” and expressed their hope that it will discourage future illegal mining activities in the DRC.

Christian Wanduma, a prosecution lawyer, told The Associated Press over the phone that “the court’s decision is an informative case meant to alert other foreigners working in our chiefdom without proper titles.”

The trial occurs amid heightened efforts to fight illegal mineral trafficking in the DRC. In June, authorities discovered 547 companies operating unlawfully in South Kivu. Subsequently, in July, the region suspended all mining activities to curb this practice that has been shown to damage the environment and encroach on wildlife reserves.

Numerous Chinese companies extract gold and other minerals in South Kivu, an eastern province of the DRC that has been afflicted by violence from armed groups for almost three decades.

In the region, attacks on quarries and mining cooperatives occur frequently due to over 120 armed groups vying for land and resources in eastern Congo. In a similar incident in 2022, an employee of a Chinese mining company from South Kivu was killed by armed robbers.

In 2021, the Congolese government halted operations of six Chinese mining companies in South Kivu due to a lack of proper authorization.

The Congolese government announced its efforts to renegotiate more favorable terms on a $6.2 billion mining contract with China, stating that the agreement has not generated sufficient profit for the Central African nation since it was established in 2008.

“The battle against unlawful mineral trafficking poses a significant challenge for the DRC. Ensuring sustainable and equitable use of the country’s mineral resources necessitates cooperation among authorities, local communities, and mining companies,” stated environmental activist Elie Mulume.