The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
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<strong>The</strong> complexity <strong>of</strong> <strong>resource</strong> <strong>governance</strong> <strong>in</strong> a context <strong>of</strong> state fragility: An analysis <strong>of</strong> the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sector <strong>in</strong> the Kivu h<strong>in</strong>terlands<br />
31<br />
Near Kalongolongo, <strong>in</strong> Babondjele groupement, there are a few gold and diamond m<strong>in</strong>es, such<br />
as the Amilulu I and II, with around 2,000 creuseurs. In Musafiri groupement, <strong>in</strong> the extreme<br />
south <strong>of</strong> the territory, several sites exists, such as the Trois Mille Ans cassiterite m<strong>in</strong>e, whose<br />
output is exported to nearby Punia. Another well-known m<strong>in</strong>e is Tshamaka, formerly owned by<br />
Cobelm<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are also some important sites on the Lubutu-Bitule axis, especially near Amisi, which<br />
has a 1,500-metre airstrip. Because it is Simba General Mando’s home base, the area is heavily<br />
militarised and currently experiences frequent FARDC <strong>in</strong>cursions. At Ntufia m<strong>in</strong>e, 1,300 creuseurs<br />
dig for cassiterite, and a further 2,000 m<strong>in</strong>ers are search<strong>in</strong>g for gold and diamonds <strong>in</strong> Masabu and<br />
Ekolo. Today, 2,500 artisanal m<strong>in</strong>ers are work<strong>in</strong>g at Libaku Ya Suka m<strong>in</strong>e, though 10,000 were<br />
observed digg<strong>in</strong>g for diamonds there <strong>in</strong> its mid-decade heyday. Other sources say Libaku Ya Suka<br />
is located <strong>in</strong> Punia territory. 83<br />
<strong>The</strong> biggest m<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> Punia territory are east <strong>of</strong> the River Oku <strong>in</strong> the forest around Kasese.<br />
Cassiterite is the most exploited m<strong>in</strong>eral <strong>in</strong> this region. Thousands <strong>of</strong> creuseurs work <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>es<br />
around Nkumwa <strong>in</strong> the southeast, such as D25, Mwame Mokota and Kalenda. <strong>The</strong> price the<br />
m<strong>in</strong>ers receive for their cassiterite ores is considerably lower here than elsewhere, between<br />
FC2,000 and 4,000 per kg. Nkumwa is seriously affected by FDLR <strong>in</strong>cursions, while FARDC<br />
extortions are reported all over the region around Kasese. Dur<strong>in</strong>g field visits, serious fight<strong>in</strong>g<br />
broke out between FARDC and FDLR rebels <strong>in</strong> Nkumwa area. As a result, local partners were<br />
unable to visit m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sites <strong>in</strong> the Kasese area. Information on the m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sites was obta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong><br />
Kasese town but accurate GPS coord<strong>in</strong>ates for the area could not be collected. <strong>The</strong> western part<br />
<strong>of</strong> Punia is quite different. Alongside cassiterite and coltan, gold, wolframite, diamonds and some<br />
monazite are extracted <strong>in</strong> relative security.<br />
In the m<strong>in</strong>es around the town <strong>of</strong> Kailo, such as Mokama, artisanal m<strong>in</strong>ers dig for wolframite<br />
and cassiterite. To the north <strong>of</strong> Kailo territory’s chief town, on the axis toward the River Ul<strong>in</strong>di,<br />
there is gold exploitation. For example, at Tambula Malembe m<strong>in</strong>e, there are 150 diggers. Most<br />
cassiterite leaves the prov<strong>in</strong>ce through K<strong>in</strong>du, while the gold ore is transported to Kalima. <strong>The</strong><br />
m<strong>in</strong>erals m<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> areas around Kumba-Basoko and Zamba-Zamba, east <strong>of</strong> Kailo, exit through<br />
Kalima for reasons <strong>of</strong> proximity. Although m<strong>in</strong>eral extraction takes place <strong>in</strong> relative security <strong>in</strong><br />
the east <strong>of</strong> the territory, “self-demobilised” Mayi Mayi rebels once loyal to General Kalonda<br />
Pamphilé are hostile towards creuseurs who come from elsewhere. 84<br />
Maniema’s western m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g sites, on the Congo’s left bank, are not covered <strong>in</strong> this report because,<br />
<strong>in</strong>s<strong>of</strong>ar as the m<strong>in</strong>eral trade is concerned, they do not belong to the h<strong>in</strong>terland <strong>of</strong> eastern DRC.<br />
Kibombo’s diamonds, produced <strong>in</strong> the chefferie Bah<strong>in</strong>a, are, for example, transported to Lubefu<br />
and Mbuji-Mayi, Kasai Oriental and, from there, to K<strong>in</strong>shasa. 85 Geologically the left bank belongs<br />
to the DRC’s Cuvette Centrale, which differs from the right bank’s sub-soil structure, with more<br />
deposits <strong>of</strong> diamonds and oil. Historically, the territory west <strong>of</strong> the Congo River has been less<br />
explored and analysed s<strong>in</strong>ce the Belgian colonial rulers were more <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce’s t<strong>in</strong><br />
deposits <strong>in</strong> the east.<br />
Kalima, <strong>in</strong> the north <strong>of</strong> Pangi territory, is the former centre <strong>of</strong> the colonial t<strong>in</strong>-m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry.<br />
Industrial exploitation collapsed around 1990. Nowadays thousands <strong>of</strong> creuseurs extract<br />
cassiterite <strong>in</strong> numerous small-scale m<strong>in</strong>es around Kalima, and generate a significant amount <strong>of</strong> t<strong>in</strong><br />
production. For example, several hundred m<strong>in</strong>ers work the m<strong>in</strong>es around Makundju. Artisanal<br />
m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g activity <strong>in</strong> Kalima region appears to be free from major human rights violations. 86<br />
83 Interview, SAESSCAM <strong>of</strong>ficials, K<strong>in</strong>du, June 2010; and Maniema Libertés, L’exploitation m<strong>in</strong>ière dans la prov<strong>in</strong>ce de Maniema/RDC, 2006.<br />
84 Interview, MONUC, K<strong>in</strong>du, June 2010.<br />
85 Maniema Libertés (2006), op. cit.<br />
86 Interview, MONUC, K<strong>in</strong>du, June 2010; and Gregory Mthembu-Salter (2009), op. cit.