The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is resorting to military intervention to stop illegal miners from gaining access to a Kolwezi copper and cobalt mine, the site of an open-cast collapse that killed 43 so-called artisanal diggers recently.
According to reports earlier today, DRC troops fired into the air as unofficial miners attempted to proceed with illegal operations at the metallurgical facility.
Following last month’s tragedy, which occurred when unstable earth collapsed on top of miners, Glencore said the safety of mining at its Katomo Copper Company (KCC) mine was compromised by up to 2000 “daily intrusions”.
The gunfire by military personnel scaring off illegal miners comes as thousands of people were reportedly forcibly evicted from KCC premises last week.
According to an eye witness, around 50 protesters gathered at the plant in an act of retaliation earlier this morning, prompting about seven military vehicles to rush to the scene where soldiers violently dispersed the crowd.
