About 300 Chinese nationals working in the Democratic Republic of Congo's copper belt were detained earlier this week as part of a crackdown on illegal mining, according to people familiar with the matter. The arrests took place mostly in the mining hub of Kolwezi, the people said, asking not to be named while describing a sensitive issue.
Chinese companies dominate copper output in Congo, and workers were arrested for their alleged involvement in illicit mining on concessions belonging to other firms, according to some of the people. The officials carrying out the arrests included agents from Congo's National Security Council and immigration authority, some of the people said.
The Chinese embassy in Kinshasa intervened, and some of the workers have since been released, they said. The Chinese embassy, Congo's mining ministry, immigration authority and presidency did not respond to requests for comment.
A wave of mainly Chinese investment has fueled Congo's copper expansion in recent years, helping the nation triple output since 2015 and surpass Peru as the world's second-largest producer. But the mining boom has also brought disorder. Artisanal miners, sometimes supported by soldiers, have repeatedly operated without authorization on permits held by international investors.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing