A tense situation has unfolded at the Service d’assistance et d’encadrement de l’exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (SAEMAPE) in Kindu, located in the Maniema province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, agents of the organization blocked access to their offices and burned tires in front of the installations. The workers are demanding payment of several months of unpaid salaries. According to Marcel Kasongo Tambwe, spokesperson for the workers, the protest aims solely to obtain payment of their due remunerations.
The workers claim that they will not resume their activities until their unpaid salaries are settled. Marcel Kasongo Tambwe explained that the situation varies among agents and concerned offices. Some workers are demanding two months of unpaid salaries, while others are waiting for payment of up to twelve months of salaries. The workers have addressed the competent authorities and the director-general to remind them of this issue, but they deplore the lack of reaction from the management despite their repeated approaches.
The agents of SAEMAPE-Kindu indicated that they have taken their concerns to the relevant authorities in search of a solution to their grievances. However, they expressed frustration over the absence of a response from the management. The workers announced that they will maintain their protest until their unpaid salaries are effectively paid. Marcel Kasongo Tambwe emphasized that the workers' patience has reached its limit and that they will not work until their salary arrears are cleared.
The protest has resulted in the disruption of SAEMAPE-Kindu's activities, with workers conditioning their return to work on the regularization of their salary situation. The workers' movement has been ongoing, with no indication of an immediate resolution. The situation remains tense, with workers determined to obtain payment of their due salaries.
According to the workers, there are no fixed and common data on the number of months of unpaid salaries owed to all workers. The amounts vary, with some workers claiming two months, others twelve months, and others five months or more. The workers have been addressing their concerns to the management and authorities, but a solution has yet to be found.
The SAEMAPE-Kindu workers' protest highlights the challenges faced by employees in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where unpaid salaries are not uncommon. The situation has sparked concerns about the welfare of workers in similar organizations and the need for effective communication and resolution mechanisms. The workers' determination to obtain payment of their due salaries has been underscored.
The situation at SAEMAPE-Kindu remains unresolved, with workers maintaining their protest until their demands are met. The organization's management has yet to provide a clear response to the workers' concerns. The impact of the protest on the organization's operations and the workers' livelihoods continues to be felt.
Key points
- Workers of SAEMAPE-Kindu in the Democratic Republic of Congo are protesting over unpaid salaries, with some claiming up to 12 months of arrears.
- The workers have addressed the competent authorities and the director-general but deplore the lack of reaction from the management.
- The protest has resulted in the disruption of SAEMAPE-Kindu's activities, with workers conditioning their return to work on the regularization of their salary situation.
