Title: Artisanal miners in Kinsafu express their anger over the appropriation of their mining concession
Introduction :
The tension has risen a notch in Kinsafu, a region located in the province of Lualaba in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Artisanal miners rose up, accusing the army of having usurped part of their mining concession in Kisangala, where they had been working for several months. Their anger has led to the paralysis of economic activities and the establishment of barricades on national road number 39. The provincial authorities are now called upon to intervene to resolve this dispute.
The context of the situation:
The mining concession in question belongs to Boss Mining and is located in Kisangala. For years, artisanal miners had intermingled with local people to survive and made a living mining this piece of land. The provincial authorities had awarded them part of this concession, called “motor pump”, while the rest was operated by Lebanese partners. However, the tension rose a notch when soldiers from the 22nd region took control of the portion granted to artisanal miners.
The revolt of artisanal miners:
Faced with this situation, the artisanal miners of Kisangala decided to revolt by blocking the national road number 39. Their objective is to regain full control of this portion of land which had been granted to them. They believe that the military exceeded their rights by appropriating their mining concession. A reduced team of ten people was sent to Kolwezi to meet the provincial authorities and seek solutions to this conflict.
Calls for the intervention of the authorities:
Artisanal miners in Kinsafu are asking the regulatory authorities to intervene to resolve this dispute. The head of the region stresses that as long as the authorities do not decide on this case, the disturbances and tensions will persist. It is crucial that the provincial authorities take action to restore order and security and find a fair solution for all parties involved.
Conclusion :
The tense situation in Kinsafu highlights growing tensions between artisanal miners and other actors present in mining concessions. It is essential that disputes are resolved in a fair and equitable manner, taking into account the rights and interests of all parties involved. The provincial authorities must play an active role in resolving these conflicts and guaranteeing the stability and development of mining in the Kinsafu region