The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis

The complexity of resource governance in a context of state fragility: An analysis of the mining sector in the Kivu hinterlands
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displaced. 141 Fifty percent of these IDPs have fled to Walikale, 20 percent to Lubutu town and 30
percent into the forest. 142
It has been reported that the Simbas are forming an alliance with the FDLR and Mayi Mayi
Cheka, based in Walikale territory, who also wish to profit from Lubutu’s mineral wealth. It
should be noted that the FDLR/Mayi Mayi Cheka involvement in Bitule’s mineral sector differs
from their looting activities in Kasese. In Bitule, the rebels are trying to control some mines,
though they have no bases in the sector. Their presence has been reported mostly near the border
with Walikale, and in the collectivités of Batike, Mandimba and Batikamvanga. 143
The FDLR
The Kimia II military operations in the Kivu provinces have forced the FDLR rebels to move
further west. Since July 2009, the FDLR influx in Maniema has increased significantly, and their
presence has been reported in Lubutu, Punia, Pangi and Kabambare territories.
The FDLR activities in Lubutu and Punia territory have been addressed above. In Kabambare,
where the FDLR has operated for a long time, one battalion of 400–500 fighters operates along
the Kabeya-Kasanga road in Babuyu sector, parallel to the border with Fizi, South Kivu. 144
Apparently, it is the only FDLR unit in Maniema with a permanent base in the province itself.
Living in the hills around Kasanga, the rebels conduct monthly incursions into the area south
of Kimano II to Kasanga, pillaging minerals, fish and other foodstuffs. They regularly abduct
locals to transport the looted goods to their hideouts. 145 FDLR activity has also been reported
in Luama Reserve, a hunting ground in Babuyu, where they kill game and exploit minerals. 146
Since December 2009, fewer FDLR movements have been observed in Kabambare territory,
resulting in an improvement of the security situation. This may have been caused by the installation
of FARDC troops in Wamaza, Salamabila and Kabambare town. It was even reported that the
FDLR had abandoned their bases in Babuyu sector. 147 Recent field observations, however, have
noted FDLR incursions in this area. 148
2.5 Conclusion
The subsoil of Maniema is rich in mineral deposits. Although industrial exploitation disappeared
in the early 1990s, artisanal miners have maintained the province’s mineral output. The province
supplies significant quantities of cassiterite to Goma and Bukavu, in particular.
Maniema, however, gains too little from its wealth. A degenerated transport network causes
most mineral production to be flown directly, from airstrips dispersed all over the province, to
the Kivus’ border towns. As a result few comptoirs have a presence in the province and a large
number of négociants sell their minerals directly to comptoirs in Goma and Bukavu.
Several mining companies are, or have been, present in the province but industrial exploitation has
not restarted, despite the allocation of many exploration permits. Mining companies have failed
to restart industrial exploitation for several reasons, such as financial problems, lack of investment
capital, disputes with local miners and disputes with other companies, in addition to poor security.
Some have turned to commercialising the ores mined by artisanal miners on their own concessions.
141 Confidential written UN source, April 2010.
142 GRAADE (2010), op. cit.
143 Confidential written UN source.
144 Confidential written UN source.
145 Interview, MONUC, Kindu, June 2010.
146 Interview, Maniema Provincial Division of Environment, October 2009.
147 Confidential written UN source.
148 Interview, MONUC, Kindu, June 2010.