Kilimalande (DRC), May 9, 2025 – Once again, the dark underbelly of the extractive industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo tarnishes human dignity. In a harrowing letter addressed to the country’s highest authorities and major international human rights organizations — a copy of which was obtained by KilaloPress — a collective of citizens from the Watsa territory (Haut-Uélé) denounces serious violations allegedly committed by provincial forces, the chief of the Kibali sector, and Kibali Gold Mines, one of the most powerful mining companies operating in Central Africa.
According to the complainants, more than 1,200 households were forcibly evicted without prior notice or adequate compensation, in operations marked by military-style force. Reports include several deaths, serious injuries, instances of psychological harassment, and racially motivated intimidation. The figures are staggering: nearly $41 million in compensation funds allegedly embezzled, with victims accusing local authorities and Mr. Dieudonné Surur, the sector chief.
This tragedy, quietly buried by official channels, reflects a pattern all too familiar across Africa: collusion between the state and multinational mining companies, to the detriment of local communities. Under the guise of economic development, mining has become the scene of what some experts now call a social and environmental ecocide.
The paradox is stark: while Kibali’s subsoil is rich in gold, the indigenous communities live in fear, poverty, and internal exile. More than 550 families still inhabit the ruins of Mégé, constantly exposed to violence. Those displaced to Kilimalande live in precarious conditions, abandoned by a state that is supposed to protect them.
This reality is, sadly, not unique. It exemplifies a violent extractivist model shared by many countries in the Global South — one that prioritizes the immediate economic interests of private, often foreign, actors over human rights, land sovereignty, and social justice.
The silence — or even complicity — of local institutions reveals the collapse of mechanisms meant to protect fundamental rights. The victims’ demands are clear: an independent investigation, sanctions against the perpetrators, and fair compensation. They call for an awakening of civil society, the media, and the international community.
It is imperative to reaffirm that environmental rights are human rights. Destroying a village, displacing families without legal grounds, and embezzling compensation funds is tantamount to condemning hundreds of people to a slow death under a veil of impunity.
This cry from Kilimalande must not be buried in a ministry archive or lost in unanswered NGO emails. It must awaken consciences and accountability — because in the shadow of gold, it is human lives being trampled. It is time to demand a responsible mining model, based on transparency, social justice, and respect for human rights. The DRC’s natural resources must no longer be a curse for its citizens, but a promise of shared dignity.
By Franck Zongwe Lukama
