Here is an article that sheds light on recent mining conflicts in the province of Lualaba, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). These conflicts are fueled by the presence of illegal operators of Lebanese nationality who engage in illegal exploitation of mining sites, to the detriment of artisanal diggers who have been driven out.
In recent months, tensions have risen between illegal operators and local populations, who have mobilized to voice their grievances. Demonstrations sometimes degenerated into violent clashes, in which civilians were the main victims.
Faced with this situation, the provincial government dispatched a delegation on the spot to try to settle the conflict and calm people down. However, the proposed solutions do not seem to satisfy all the stakeholders, and the conflicts continue.
It should also be noted that these illegal operations are organized under the cover of people pretending to be members of the presidential family, allowing them to benefit from total impunity from the military and civil authorities.
Complaints have been sent to the competent authorities, but no concrete action has been taken so far.
These mining conflicts are unfortunately not isolated to the DRC, where mining is often a source of tension and violence. It is important that the competent authorities take the necessary measures to ensure responsible exploitation that respects the rights of local populations.
In the meantime, some players in the mining sector are seeking to promote a responsible value chain for critical minerals, to limit the negative impacts of mining on populations and the environment.