In a groundbreaking operation, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have detained approximately 60 foreigners at the Kakanda concession of Boss Mining, a company owned by the Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). The detainees, including Chinese, Lebanese, Syrian, Moroccan, Iraqi, and Palestinian nationals, are suspected of involvement in an alleged money laundering network, possession of illegally mined mineral deposits, and illegal artisanal mining. The operation, which took place on October 28, 2026, marks a significant escalation in the country's efforts to crack down on illicit mining activities.
The detainees were held at the Menda quarry in Kakanda, and initial information suggests that most of them did not have valid passports, visas, or residence permits to live and work in the DRC. Congolese civilians and military personnel are also among those apprehended and suspected of belonging to the network. The presence of soldiers raises questions about complicity and who protected the trade. During the operation, the commission responsible for cleaning up Lualaba's mining sector seized a substantial sum in Congolese francs and foreign currencies, including US dollars.
The raid follows more than two years of complaints that Boss Mining's licensed ground had been overrun by illegal miners. In May 2025, representatives of 27 impacted communities marched in Kakanda against what they called systematic pillage, the illegal militarization of sites, and the complicity of figures close to power. Reporting at the time claimed that more than 200 trucks of stolen ore left the sites each day for processing in Chinese-run plants in the DRC.
The human toll of the illegal mining activities has been severe. In March 2026, a landslide at the company's Safi site killed 11 artisanal miners. Civil society groups said that illegal mining and a military presence had made the disaster possible. Boss Mining had alerted the authorities in 2022, but the situation remained unchecked.
The authorities have kept up pressure elsewhere in the province, intercepting trucks carrying minerals on the Sakabinda axis as part of the sector clean-up. The raid raises questions about the extent of complicity inside the security forces and the fate of the detained foreigners. Their legal treatment, including access to consular help, is a test of due process.
For Kakanda's communities, who have demanded the return of Boss Mining and the removal of the "invaders," the arrests are a long-awaited signal. Whether they become prosecutions will be the measure of Kinshasa's resolve. ERG, Boss Mining, and the Ministry of Mines had not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.
The operation was reportedly led by Papy Mbuyi, head of a delegated commission of the Presidency of the Republic. The African Mirror could not independently confirm which government body commanded the operation. The origin of the money seized, the roles of the detainees, and the true scale of the alleged activity remain unclear.
Key points
- The DRC authorities have detained 60 foreigners, including Chinese, Lebanese, and Syrians, in a mining crackdown at Kakanda.
- The detainees are suspected of involvement in an alleged money laundering network, possession of illegally mined mineral deposits, and illegal artisanal mining.
- The operation raises questions about complicity inside the security forces and the fate of the detained foreigners.
