BBC achieved rare access to mine powering mobile phones

The M23 rebels in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo recently allowed the BBC to visit a huge mining site under their control, which is important for the production of the world’s mobile phones – and a person was not inactive in its vast detail.

Thousands of miners set up a landscape covered with pits and tunnels.

Some were deep underground, digging the ore with a shovel, others hoisted the colon -rich rock sacks, which are used to make many electronic devices on their shoulders. They then took it to the assembly points, where others washed and filtered it with spades and hand.

The BBC said, “We usually have more than 10,000 or more people working here,” Patris Musafiri, who has taken care of the Ruba mining site, as the rebels controlled it in April last year.

This is a difficult area to navigate – our team needed the rods of walking, as well as the help of the guidance of Mr. Musafiri, to prevent us from falling – yet this is the only life for most men he knows. It can be luxurious and dangerous, but it allows them to create a small life.

“When we are deep in the mines, the temperature is very high – the mineral is also very difficult to dig … besides other harmful gases,” Mineworker Peter Osiyasi told the BBC.

“Sometimes cold air is pumped inside so that we can continue to work,” he said.

But the young man said that he was grateful that since he started mining five years ago, he is capable of saving some money for dowry and has now married the children.

“My life has really changed. Mining has really helped me.”

The golden skard is found in the vast, succulent Massey hills of my north of Kivu province of Earth – Goma is about 60 km (37 mi) in the north -west of the city – and 15% of the world’s colctan supply and Dr. Half of the total deposit of Congo is.

Slightly surprised that global investors have their own eyes on this field.

It has provided immense funds to various armed groups for years, who have oversee it at different times including the army.

We reached the mine, which is around 10 km outside Rubaya city, several days later in Washington, Dr. A ceasefire deal was signed by Congo and Rwanda, which was part of the peace process with the aim of ending three decades of instability in the region.

Dr. The roots of insecurity in the east of Congo are notorious.

There is an ethnic dimension, including many rebel groups work here – including an ethnic Hutu Milicia associated with the 1994 Rawandan massacre, which Kigali believes that is a congregational banking.

In Washington, the two sides committed on 27 June to remove and decompose their alleged proxy (despite denying anyone).

The M23 was not a party for the deal. Mainly under the leadership of ethnic Tutis, this Eastern Dr. Controls large parts of the Congo – and has controlled Goma, Bukevu city and two airports since January. Rwanda has been accused by many – in which the United Nations – M -23. However, the officials there refuse to send military or financial assistance.

America’s participation in this process, Dr. The Congo hinges to achieve access to mineral resources – although nothing has been specified so far.

“We are receiving for the United States, from a lot of mineral rights [DR] Congo, “US President Donald Trump said before signing.

During our brief journey – we were allowed access to about 45 minutes – there was no indication that the command series was about to change.

The supervisor appointed by M23, was curious to explain how the set -up in Rubya was reorganized in the last year and how the rebel group brought security to allow the miners to work without any fear – specifying that no armed men were allowed on the site.

“We have already solved so many issues,” said Mr. Musafiri.

“Currently we have a mining department that controls and monitors safety issues and also resolves internal disputes within the mines. If a tunnel becomes dangerous, people are asked to leave to avoid accidents.

“People from different groups come here for daily and other people to buy minerals and now we have a huge market in Goma where they can make it useless to buy here.”

In December, the United Nations experts report explained how M23 earns hundreds of thousands of dollars every month from imposing tax on colon, most of its part was sent directly to Rwanda – allegations of denying both M23 and Kigli.

Surrounded by his colleagues wearing jeans, sweaters and Wellington boots, all of whom buy permits to work on the site, Mr. Osiyasi agreed that the conditions were better.

“Business is going very well here because we have some glimpse of at least peace, but the salary is very low. We are paid very little money,” said mineral.

Trump’s second term took place with most parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces of M23 and the derogatory return of the Kangoli army.

Political analyst Akram Tambasifu says that Dr. The Congo decided to use its rich mineral reserves as a bargain chip to help us – it sought military support for months.

With a temporary peace process, the greatest hope of the congregations, he told the BBC, American firms will be in a position to “invest” in their mining sector, which currently dominate Chinese companies.

US companies are allegedly looking for cash on the occasion of Rubaya investing in the mining sector.

Rubaya observer told us that investment would be welcomed, but only for the purpose of promoting the local economy – along with jobs, schools and hospitals – will be allowed.

“Any foreign investor can come here, as long as they come up with development for our people and increase daily wages for miners,” said Mr. Musafiri.

Despite the country’s vast natural settlements, most mining communities have very little infrastructure, even without accessible roads for mines where money is scooped from ground.

Mr. Tumsifu said that the presence of American investors can also serve as “caution against fighting or resurrection of other armed groups”.

But it is not yet clear how or with whom an investor will trade, which is still under control in the past, given the M23.

A parallel arbitration attempt led to Qatar – including direct interaction between armed groups and the Kangoli government – may achieve more clarity in the coming months.

The M23, which is part of the wider Congo River alliance, stated that the Washington -backed deal was reduced by addressing the causes of long struggle. It keeps this Dr. The minority in the Congo takes up arms to protect the rights of the Tutsi group.

While the militant people try their favorite routes for peace, the local people on the Rubaya mine, Eastern Dr. Somewhere else in the Congo expects a certain end for fighting and bloodshed, in which hundreds of thousands of people run away from their homes.

“My appeal to fellow young men and our leaders is to maintain and maintain peace in our region,” said Mr. Osiyasi.

As he prepared to go back for more excavation hours, he said: “I also appeal to the owners of the mines to increase our salary as it is very low.”

Additional Reporting by BBC’s Robert Captu and Hasan Lali