The Democratic Republic of Congo is going to lift the ban on mining in the eastern sector in March 2010. The Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu said on Tuesday that the ban on mining activities and exports that was applied to North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema would be lifted.
The ban which was executed on September 2011 was imposed to cut off funding to armed groups in the region. The area is rich in gold, tin ore cassiterite and coltan. The six month old ban was part of President Joseph Kabila’s plan to break up the mafia groups that controlled mineral trade in the provinces.
The illegal mining activities there in conjunction with the armed groups have fueled more than a decade of conflict in the provinces of North Kinu, South Kivu and Maniema. However the ban was heavily critiqued by the mining industry as well as the international tin industry body ITRI. Congo is the African continent’s largest producer of tin.
The ban would be lifted as Kabwelulu said that there have been government backed efforts to improve the governance in the sector. There is also a measure of traceability of the local supplies. He made the announcement at a conference where provincial officials and representatives for the local mining industry were present.