The “Génération Positive RDC” movement alerts about the positive variation of Rwanda’s exports despite the arrest of the national deputy Édouard Mwangachuchu and the withdrawal of the mining permit from the Bisunzu Mining Company (SMB).
In a letter dated August 1, 2023, to the Congolese government, this pro-democracy movement wants to understand several issues around mining in the territories of Masisi, in the province of North Kivu.
The Génération Positive RDC coordination in Kinshasa wonders why the M23 continues to threaten and occupy certain areas of Rutshuru, Masisi, and Nyiragongo, despite the arrest of Mr. Edouard Mwangachuchu, who has been on trial since last March. He is accused by the public prosecutor of maintaining relations with the Rwandan authorities with the intention of destabilizing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the M23 rebels.
“Why do the Government of Kinshasa and the State Government of North Kivu remain silent about the exploitation of minerals from Rubaya in Masisi by unknown groups and for the benefit of who knows who despite the closure of an official exploitation in the sites of Rubaya in Masisi by the same authorities? Where are the minerals exploited in Masisi-Rubaya going since the arrest of Mwangachuchu and especially since the occupation of this territory by the M23? Between the DRC, Rwanda and the M23, who really benefits from the financial benefit of fraudulent exportation which, however, seems to be done openly in Rubaya and one would say with the blessing of who knows who?”, asks the Génération Positive RDC.
This citizen movement wants, at the same time, to see clearly, on the reinforcement and training of the elements of M23 while the province of North Kivu is now heavily militarized by the FARDC, the Monusco, and the regional force of the East African Community (EAC).
Referring to the press release published by the Rwandan Mining, Petroleum and Gas Office (RMB), the export revenues of minerals for the first quarter of 2023, running from January to March, have increased.
Cassiterite generated 316,093 kilograms in January, 320,555 kg in February, and 363,701 kg. As for coltan, Rwanda recorded a substantial increase in export revenues, reaching 123,514 kg valued at $5,911,646 in January, 138,205 valued at $6,985,467 in February, and 213,065 kg valued at $11,415,082 in March. Other mining products have experienced a positive variation in the international market.
In a way, from January to March, the volume in Kg of exported minerals is 5,925,199 and the values in USD are over 247 million.
Let us point out that the Minister of Mines, Antoinette Nsamba, withdrew at the end of last July the operating permit granted to the Bisunzu Mining Company (SMB), owned by national deputy Mwangachuchu, for non-compliance with company obligations.
Magloire Tsongo, in Goma
