Lualaba: More than 60 foreign nationals in irregular status arrested at a mining site in Kakanda

More than 60 foreign nationals in irregular status were arrested on October 27 at the Menda quarry, within Boss Mining’s concession in Kakanda, Lualaba. An interagency commission from Kinshasa accused them of illegal artisanal mining activities and maintaining illicit mineral depots. Those arrested included Chinese, Lebanese, Moroccan, Iraqi, Palestinian and Syrian nationals, as well as Congolese civilians and soldiers suspected of involvement. They were transferred to a temporary transit camp for identification and registration, and large sums of money were seized.