Authorities announced late Tuesday that 14 of the 17 Chinese men detained on suspicion of operating an illicit gold mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo had been released. Most Chinese men imprisoned for illicit mining are released by Congo.
During a crackdown on unlawful mineral extraction in the central African country, the men—who are returning to China—were arrested last week along with others from Congo and nearby Burundi for not presenting the necessary paperwork.
The governor of the province where the men were detained, South Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, told reporters he was surprised to learn of their release.
He stated that the Chinese miners owed the government $10 million in unpaid taxes and fines.
Officials arrested the 17 people who seemed to be in command of the location, which had about 60 Chinese nationals present.
Requests for comment from the Chinese embassy in Kinshasa have not been answered. Burundi’s embassy stated that it was still awaiting information from its Bukavu-based envoy.
The goal, according to South Kivu’s acting minister of mining and finance, Bernard Muhindo, is to enhance the system.
He told reporters, “The goal is to clean up the mining industry so that trustworthy partners can work properly and legally, not to go on a manhunt.”
The nation in central Africa claims that it has been having difficulty preventing unregistered businesses and occasionally armed organisations from taking advantage of its abundant gold, cobalt, cooper, and other mineral resources.
Conflict in the area bordering Rwanda has been exacerbated by competition over mining operations.
source: mining.com
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