Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have arrested 58 people suspected of involvement in violence and vandalism during protests by artisanal miners in Kolwezi, the country's main copper and cobalt mining hub, following government inspections of mineral processing facilities and trading centres.
Security officials presented the suspects to Lualaba provincial Interior Minister Roy Kaumba Mayonde on October 23 after several days of unrest that disrupted transport, businesses and schools, Radio Okapi reported on October 25. The suspects are accused of exploiting the demonstrations to commit offences, although their involvement has not been established.
The protests began on October 19 after an inter-agency commission from Kinshasa inspected mineral processing facilities and buying centres. Artisanal miners accused the authorities of closing some facilities and restricting their ability to sell copper and cobalt ore.
The unrest spread across several Kolwezi neighbourhoods, where demonstrators erected roadblocks, burned tyres and threw stones at vehicles. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds, according to Radio Okapi. Several people were injured, shops looted and vehicles damaged. Local sources also reported that a police post was set alight, allowing detainees to escape.
The demonstrations also reflected a longer-running dispute over access to mining sites. Authorities have sought to relocate artisanal miners from Kamilombe, a concession belonging to state-owned Gécamines, to designated artisanal mining zone ZEA 371. The provincial government addressed the relocation on October 13, but miners have questioned the suitability of alternative sites. The government has also announced plans for 33 artisanal mining zones.
Lualaba Governor Fifi Masuka denied that mineral processing plants had been closed, saying businesses remained open and urging miners to sell through registered cooperatives. Chico Kebonte, an adviser to the national mines minister and member of the inspection commission, said the operation sought to improve regulatory compliance rather than suspend mining activity, according to Actualite.cd.
The governor's denial did not resolve miners' complaints about interruptions to buying operations or access to mineral markets. The authorities have not established whether individual trading centres were temporarily unable to operate during the inspections.
Calm began returning to parts of Kolwezi on October 21, although tensions persisted. Subsequent security operations led to the arrest of the 58 suspects presented to provincial authorities on October 23.
The unrest disrupted artisanal mineral trading and local commercial activity, but no official estimate of lost sales or confirmed production losses at major industrial mines has been released.
Access to mineral buying centres and alternative artisanal mining zones remains disputed, while judicial proceedings against those detained have yet to be concluded.