By the Numbers: Congo’s Deadly Struggle With Illegal Mining
Authorities are struggling to cope with illegal miners digging for riches.
An artisanal project operated by Chemaf Sarl on its Mutoshi concession near Kolwezi
Photographer: William Clowes/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A deadly landslide and troop deployments at two giant mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlight how authorities are struggling to cope with citizens’ efforts to share in the country’s immense mineral wealth.
The events at Glencore Plc and China Molybdenum Co.’s operations are the latest examples of long-running tensions that exist in the copper- and cobalt-rich Katanga region between the sprawling, foreign-owned industrial mines and locals who extract the minerals using rudimentary hand tools.