A COURT in Bukavu, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) gold-rich South Kivu province, has sentenced three Chinese nationals to seven years in prison for illegal gold dealings. The men were convicted of purchasing and possessing mineral substances without authorisation, as well as money laundering, AFP reported.
The sentencing, handed down late on Tuesday, follows their arrest in early January when authorities discovered them in possession of 10 gold bars and $400,000 in cash. The court also fined them $600,000 for violating mining regulations and lacking transparency in their activities.
Illegal mining crackdown in eastern DRC
Authorities in the DRC have intensified efforts to curb illegal mining operations, particularly in the eastern provinces, where foreign companies—many of them Chinese-owned—are accused of extracting resources without proper permits or declaring profits.
The three convicted men, who claimed to be traders, were also found guilty of ‘illegal stay’ in the country but were not charged with illicit mineral exploitation. Their lawyer declined to comment.
Rising concerns over illegal mining
Illegal mining has been a major issue in the DRC, leading to widespread environmental damage and depriving local communities of economic benefits. In response, the provincial government last year suspended mining activities for companies failing to comply with regulations.
At the beginning of the year, several hundred residents in Bukavu staged protests against illegal mining, demanding that the country’s vast mineral wealth be used to benefit local populations.
Conflict and resource exploitation
The eastern DRC is home to vast reserves of gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for manufacturing mobile phones and electric vehicles. However, this wealth has also fuelled conflict, with armed groups vying for control of resource-rich territories. The situation has worsened since late 2021 with the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, further destabilising the region.
The conviction of the three Chinese nationals underscores the DRC government’s increasing efforts to regulate its mining sector and combat illegal activities that have long plagued the region.
