The forces of the civil society of Faradje, in the province of Haut-Uele, called on Governor Christophe Baseane Nangaa to comply with Article 242 of the Mining Code in force in DR Congo. The latter requires any mining company to allocate the 15% of the mining royalty to the riparian territorial Entities (ETD) bordering the mining project. Therefore, Kibali Gold Mine should refrain from making this fund available to the province.

This position of the civil society follows the express request made by the provincial authority to the Kibali Gold Mine Branch, that of proceeding to the release of the funds put in receivership at the Commercial Bank of Congo (BCDC) so to make them available for their better distribution and the realization of investments in the six decentralized Entities concerned.

« The maintenance of the sequestration on these sums, which are exigible from the exploitation,, e is justified in no way insofar as the legal provisions [articles 242 of the Mining Code and 526 of the Mining Regulations] have already entered into force and must imperatively receive application, « said the governor Christophe Baseane.

Although this process was supported by the President of the Provincial Assembly, Afounde Afongenda, the Forces / Vives civil society did not endorse it at all. They informed him in an official letter of 23 August 2019 signed by their coordinator Rigobert Madrakele Kaloma:

« We take our responsibility to oppose categorically to an approach that would lead you to take action that will enervate Article 242 of the mining code whose interpretation can not give rise to any ambiguity. « 

Indeed, the six decentralized territorial Entities concerned have a bad memory of the management of the quota that Kibali Gold Mine paid under the mandate of the former governor Lola Kisanga. Hence, some activists recommend, the need and the urgency to audit on the allocation of this money.

With regard to the provision of these funds to the direct beneficiaries, the Secretary General for Mines had already seized the governors of the provinces to indicate the procedure. In accordance with the mining law, each ETD concerned is supposed to open its bank account / Mining royalty separate from that of the province.

Emilie MBOYO