On Monday, October 21, 2024, authorities officially closed an artisanal and illegal diamond mine in Kanshi commune, Eastern Kasai, to protect residents’ lives, according to a report from the Council of Ministers.
“The governor has ordered the permanent closure of Kanshi’s artisanal diamond mine and the implementation of enhanced surveillance to prevent further tragedies,” the report stated.
This decision follows a series of fatalities associated with clandestine mining, often involving young residents, leading to significant loss of life and damage. The closure was enforced during a visit from the governor, joined by the provincial Minister of Infrastructure.
Illegal diamond mining has become a recurring issue in residential areas of Mbuji-Mayi, especially in the communes of Bipemba and Kanshi, where some residents have converted their home plots into diamond mining sites, according to local officials.
Addressing Kanshi residents, interim governor Augustin Kayemba Mulemena called on parents to prioritize education over exposing children to hazardous mining conditions.
“Young people belong in school, not in dangerous artisanal diamond mines trying to support their families. Anyone found in this area will face legal consequences,” the governor warned.
