Rwanda Sees Increased Mining Investments After Ban in Congo, Minister Says

Rwanda expects increased investment in its minerals industry following the suspension of mining in eastern parts of the neighboring Democrghana gold mine for saleatic Republic of Congo, according to Christophe Bazivamo, Rwanda’s minister for forestry and mining. “We expect investors who want to mine and trade minerals from Congo to now do that in Rwanda because of the ban,” he said in an interview in Kigali yesterday.

Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Sept. 9 suspended most mining in the North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema provinces in an effort to wrest control of the industry from “mafia groups.” The suspension will continue while the Congolese army tries to stabilize the area around Bisie, the region’s biggest tin-ore mine, Mines Minister Martin Kabwelulu said on Oct. 25. “We will determine the impact of the ban on our exports in January,” said Bazivamo. “But we know that investors can get the minerals they were getting from Congo here in Rwanda.”