Industrial mining in some African countries does not necessarily go hand in hand with the happiness of the host populations. Mining industry expansion projects leave local populations in vulnerable situations. In one of its publications, Amnesty International reported on the expulsion of local people to make way for the expansion of industrial cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
For this study, Amnesty International conducted in-depth analyses of 04 mines operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kolwezi copper and cobalt mine, the Mutoshi mine, Metalkol RTR and the Kamoa Kakula mine are the industries that caught Amnesty International’s attention because of their expansion plans and policies in the DRC.
The Kamoa-Kakula mining project is located around 25 kilometres south-west of Kolwezi and covers an area which, according to its operator, Kamoa, is home to some 40,000 people, including 1,352 who have lost access to their homes, businesses or fields as a result of mining activities.
According to the company, “each family received a house […] on the basis of what had been decided by the committee [resettlement working group] according to the agreed plans attached to the individual transfer deed”. However, several community members complained about the size and basic amenities of the housing built by the company. According to the research team, none of the houses made available for resettlement were equipped with a shower, running water or electricity.
What about the Mutoshi, Metalkol RTR and Kamoa Kakula mines?
Tiba Kassamse OUEDRAOGO
Mines Actu Burkina
