Authorities in South Kivu province announced on Friday the arrest of 17 Chinese men accused of operating an illegal gold mine, as the government intensifies efforts to clamp down on unlicensed mineral extraction.
The suspects were presented during a press conference in Bukavu, the provincial capital. Seated unrestrained, they declined to comment when approached by journalists.
Their arrest followed a surprise inspection of the mining site in Karhembo village on Thursday by a provincial government delegation. Acting Mines Minister Bernard Muhindo stated the men failed to provide documentation for their operations.
“We asked for the company’s papers, but there were none—no certificate, no registration, no national identification, nothing,” Muhindo said.
Officials reported that approximately 60 Chinese nationals were working at the site. Seventeen believed to be leading the operation, along with Congolese and Burundian collaborators, were taken into custody.
The Chinese embassy in Kinshasa has yet to comment, while Burundi’s embassy stated it is awaiting further details.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in cobalt, copper, and gold, has long struggled with unlicensed mining. Authorities say such activities—sometimes controlled by armed groups—undermine the country’s resources and fuel conflict in the border region near Rwanda.
In July, South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki temporarily suspended mining in the province to restore order. Operations later resumed, but investigations into illegal practices remain ongoing.