The governor of South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered the suspension of all mining activities in the region.
Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki announced the suspension on Friday, citing “disorder caused by the mining operators” as the reason, although he did not provide further details.
All companies, businesses and cooperatives are required to leave the sites and operating locations within 72 hours, Sadiki said.
The suspension will remain in effect until further notice.
This decision will significantly impact small-scale miners, the dominant producers of metals like cobalt, gold and tin in the region.
To address the situation, the governor has scheduled a meeting with mining operators on July 30.
DR Congo is the world’s largest producer of cobalt. They are also significant producers of copper and industrial diamonds.
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