DRC Detains 300 Chinese Nationals in Illegal Mining Crackdown

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have detained around 300 Chinese nationals in a crackdown on suspected illegal mining in the country’s copper belt, with most of the detentions reported in Kolwezi, a major copper and cobalt mining centre.

The detentions took place in October and targeted individuals suspected of mining on concessions licensed to other companies, according to a Bloomberg report published on 16 October, citing people familiar with the operation. Officials from the DRC’s National Security Council and immigration authorities reportedly took part in the operation.

The allegations concern activity on mining concessions allocated to other operators. The identities of the companies whose concessions were affected, however, have not been publicly confirmed, and the reported detentions do not establish that those held committed an offence.

Some Detainees Released

China’s embassy in Kinshasa intervened following the detentions, and some of the Chinese nationals have reportedly been released. The total number still in custody, the circumstances of the releases and whether formal charges have been filed remain unclear.

The Chinese embassy, the DRC’s Ministry of Mines, immigration authorities and the presidency did not respond to Bloomberg’s requests for comment, according to the report.

The operation comes amid recurring disputes over unauthorised mining on concessions held by established operators. Artisanal miners have repeatedly entered areas allocated to industrial mining companies, sometimes with alleged support from members of the security forces. These activities have raised concerns about access to mineral-rich land and the protection of mining rights.

Kolwezi at the Centre of Copper and Cobalt

Kolwezi, in Lualaba province, sits at the heart of the DRC’s copper and cobalt industry. The country has attracted substantial investment from Chinese mining companies, helping expand copper production and making the DRC the world’s second-largest copper producer after Chile.

That expansion has also increased the importance of enforcing concession boundaries and regulating who can extract and trade minerals. Industrial operators depend on access to their licensed areas, while unauthorised mining can create disputes over mineral ownership and supply chains.

The latest detentions follow a separate enforcement action in September, when seven Chinese nationals were reportedly removed from Kolwezi after being accused of illegally purchasing minerals from artisanal miners operating on concessions allocated to other companies.

The status of the approximately 300 people detained in October remains uncertain, and Congolese authorities have not publicly confirmed the full details of the operation.