DR Congo has ordered an investigation into suspected illegal mining, Semafor reported on Wednesday. The order followed the seizure of thousands of tons of copper and cobalt. The justice minister said police, soldiers and mining officials also confiscated more than 500 trucks and machines at several sites in the country's southeast.
Semafor said the probe could mark the start of a tougher response to illicit operators occupying mining sites. Some of the world's biggest mining companies have complained about them for years.
DR Congo is the world's largest cobalt producer and a major copper supplier. It is courting investment in metals used in electric cars and electronics. It also wants greater economic benefits from its mineral wealth. But the government faces pressure to protect investors' mining rights while safeguarding nearby communities. Semafor cited repeated reports of harm to residents' health and livelihoods.