A Congolese court has sentenced three Chinese citizens to seven years in prison after finding them guilty of illegal activities linked to the artisanal mining sector. The defendants, arrested with gold bars and $400,000 in cash, are the first Chinese nationals to stand trial under the country’s intensified crackdown on unlicensed mineral extraction.
The judgment, delivered in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, includes a $600,000 fine and a permanent ban from Congo upon completing their sentences. The court convicted the trio on charges of money laundering and illegal purchase and possession of mineral substances but acquitted them of fraud and illegal mineral extraction due to insufficient evidence. Despite pleading guilty to four charges, the defendants claimed ignorance of Congolese law, a defence their lawyers plan to use in an appeal.
“This is an educational trial that should normally serve as a wake-up call to all Chinese nationals who think they can leave China, arrive in Kitutu, Kibe, Lugushwa, Kamituga, or Mwenga and behave as if they were in their own room, without even paying the hotel fees,” said Christian Wanduma, a lawyer representing local communities.
The case comes amid Congo’s ongoing struggle to prevent unlicensed companies and armed groups from exploiting its vast mineral reserves, which include cobalt, copper, and gold. The nation’s mineral wealth, often unregulated, has fueled corruption, environmental harm, and conflict, particularly in the eastern regions.
Public outrage over illegal mining activities has intensified in recent weeks. Last week, protesters in Bukavu condemned the release of Chinese men detained in a separate illegal mining case. Civil society leader Nene Bintu expressed the frustration of many, saying, “Our minerals are being plundered by companies that are mostly Chinese-owned, and our people remain in extreme poverty. The roads are very dilapidated, and we have difficulty accessing drinking water, health care, education, electricity, and employment. This situation has gone on for too long and must end now.”
In 2021, authorities banned six Chinese-owned mining companies for alleged illegal operations. The latest trial underscores Congo’s renewed commitment to regulating its artisanal mining sector, though critics argue that more robust measures are needed to protect local communities and ensure equitable distribution of mining revenues.
