In an open letter addressed to the AFC/M23 rebel governor, the residents of Lomera oppose the ultimatum imposed by the AFC/M23 militia to abandon the artisanal mining site. According to instructions given by the rebel group, this mining site is intended for semi-industrial operation. The residents consider this act a serious violation of human rights and international law.
They emphasize that Lomera is an ancestral heritage and a historical land belonging to an entire people. « Any forced relocation is considered illegal, unjust, and contrary to national and international laws, » the letter states.
It should be noted that despite threats from the rebels, the residents of Lomera reaffirm their commitment to defending their heritage, which they consider their memory and their future, and warn that any forced eviction will result in criminal charges against those responsible. Let us remember that Lomera is an artisanal mining site located in the Luhihi group in the Kabare territory in the province of South Kivu. This corner of the DRC experienced a gold rush in late 2024, transforming it into a major artisanal mining site. Since then, Lomera has been receiving thousands of people seeking a livelihood.
The armed group AFC/M23, which controls a large part of South Kivu, seized authority over this area and imposed mining regulations, including a tax on the miners.
In 2025, these same rebels suspended activities at the site and ordered the evacuation of the miners, claiming they were securing the area by identifying those who frequented it.
Flore KAYALA MUKALA
