Louis Watum Launches the Fight Against Illegal Expatriates in Congolese Mines at Kibali Goldmine

The day of October 5 was marked by two major events: a visit to the facilities of Kibali Goldmine and the dismantling of an illegal gold mining network operated by foreign nationals in the territory of Watsa. At Kibali Goldmine, the Minister of Mines, accompanied by national and provincial elected officials, the Honorable Governor of Haut-Uélé Jean Bakomito, and members of the provincial security council, visited several strategic sites: the open-pit mines, where he spoke with Congolese engineers and technicians about operating and safety conditions; the TSF site, dedicated to the storage and treatment of liquid mining waste, to ensure compliance with environmental standards and the company’s ecological responsibility; and community projects implemented by Kibali Goldmine for local populations through its minimum 0.3% turnover allocation, symbols of the mining sector’s contribution to the socio-economic development of the region, including the 2-megawatt photovoltaic power plant under construction in the village of Surur, capital of the Bari-Logo Chiefdom.

On the same day, the Minister, accompanied by the Governor of Haut-Uélé, led a field operation that resulted in the dismantling of a network of Chinese nationals illegally exploiting gold using machinery and environmental pollutants in a concession on the mining permit belonging to Kibali Goldmine in the village of Gatanga. These illegal operators were working without a mining title or legal authorization to operate in the mining sector, in clear violation of the Mining Code and Regulations. In response, the Minister ordered: the immediate arrest of those responsible for this illegal operation, a decision supported by the provincial governor and backed by the people’s elected representatives in the delegation; the seizure of all machinery and materials illegally used by the arrested Chinese nationals; and the complete cessation of activities at the affected sites.
Continuing his agenda, Minister Louis Watum Kabamba presided over a meeting with representatives of civil society in all its diversity and those of mining cooperatives, the officials of the Specialized Body DOT Kibali, and the delegates of the enlarged Local Development Committee (CLD) from all six Decentralized Territorial Entities (ETD) impacted by Kibali Goldmine’s operations, local authorities, the Federation of Congolese Enterprises, and the mining company’s subcontractors, as well as various segments of the population.
This meeting allowed for the collection of local concerns, the strengthening of dialogue between the State and sector stakeholders, and a reminder of the need for legal, responsible, and mutually beneficial mining exploitation.
The Minister emphasised that the Congolese mining sector must remain a driver of national development, which requires discipline, transparency, integrity, love of country and others, and strict respect for the laws of the Republic.
A busy day ended with a dinner offered at the Rhino restaurant by the Country Director of Barrick Congo and Kibali Goldmines to the Minister of Mines, Cyrille Mutombo, the provincial governor, the people’s elected representatives, and the various members of their delegations.

By Divine Mwenda