Rights group: about 5,000 troops and police remain at DR Congo mining sites
Congolese NGO Justicia Asbl says about 5,000 soldiers and police remain at mining sites in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. It says this defies a presidential ban announced in July and puts human rights at risk.
About 5,000 soldiers and police officers are still deployed at mining sites in southern DR Congo, the NGO Justicia Asbl said on Monday. The sites are in Haut-Katanga and Lualaba provinces. According to Radio Okapi, the group says this defies a ban the country's president announced in July. The claim follows investigations by Justicia Asbl at several sites, including Menda, Mupampala, Kyona 2, Kipense, Sokoroshi and Kakanda Nord. The group says members of the national army (FARDC) and the national police (PNC) are still posted there. Authorities had ordered them out of mining zones. Justicia Asbl president Timothée Mbuya said the personnel counted include members of the Republican Guard and the 22nd military region. They also include staff of the military prosecutor's office and several police units. He said their presence does not always match a security need raised by mining…
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