Three Chinese nationals have been apprehended in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo with 12 gold bars and $800,000 (£650,000) in cash, as reported by officials. The gold and currency were concealed beneath the seats of the vehicle they were traveling in, according to Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province.
Governor Purusi disclosed that the operation to detain the individuals had been conducted covertly following the recent release of a separate group of Chinese nationals who were accused of operating an illicit gold mine in the area. Eastern DR Congo possesses extensive reserves of gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for mobile phone and electric vehicle batteries. Foreign entities have exploited this mineral wealth since the colonial period, contributing to the region’s enduring instability over the past three decades.
Militia factions exercise control over numerous mines in eastern DR Congo, profiting by selling the minerals to intermediaries. Purusi conveyed that certain traders in precious metals maintain favorable relationships with influential figures in the capital city of Kinshasa, necessitating secrecy in executing the latest arrests. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement uncovered the gold and cash only after an exhaustive search of the vehicle in the Walungu area near the Rwandan border. The exact quantity of seized gold was not specified.
Last month, Governor Purusi expressed dismay upon learning that 17 Chinese nationals, detained for allegedly operating an illicit gold mine, had been released and permitted to return to China. He emphasized that this development impeded efforts to reform DR Congo’s notoriously opaque mineral sector. The individuals reportedly owed $10 million in taxes and fines to the government, as cited by Reuters news agency.
The Chinese embassy has refrained from commenting on the accusations. These arrests coincide with escalating conflict in neighboring North Kivu province, where a rebel group backed by Rwanda has seized significant territories. DR Congo recently initiated legal action against Apple over the utilization of “blood minerals,” prompting the tech company to announce a cessation of sourcing from both DR Congo and Rwanda.
Rwanda has denied allegations of facilitating the illegal mineral trade from DR Congo. The lawsuit filed on behalf of the Congolese government contended that minerals extracted from conflict zones were laundered through global supply chains, perpetuating violence, funding militias and extremist groups, and perpetuating forced child labor and ecological degradation.
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[Getty Images/BBC]
