No roads lead to Bisie. This hidden town of 10,000 lies about 30 miles down a winding, muddy footpath through dense, equatorial forest. Built entirely for the mine, it is a cloistered world of expropriation and violence that mirrors the broad crisis in Congo.
This is Africa’s resource curse: The wealth is unearthed by the poor, controlled by the strong, then sold to a world largely oblivious of its origins.
The Spoils: Buried Treasure, Broken Nation is a series examining the role of natural resources in spurring conflict in Africa. The first installment is Congo’s Riches, Looted by Renegade Troops. Pictures speak louder than words – check out the narrated slide show.
While owned by a group of investors from the UK and South Africa, there is no real development of this project, partially as a result of the militia playing up concerns related to the group’s real intentions.
Mr. Christophers [of Mining and Processing Congo, the liscense owner] said that his company was prepared to help pay not just for a road to the mine but also for schools, clinics and a hydroelectric power station. It also promised to invite government agencies to enforce labor standards. But none of them have had the chance.
Indeed, some workers are suspicious of the company’s plans, fearing that a road would put thousands of porters out of work and that mechanized mining would drastically reduce employment here. The militia has tapped this unease to convince some workers and local officials that the company will simply abscond with the minerals and leave the local people empty-handed.
Very little thoughts on a solution, but such reports are vital in remembering how complex these situations can be. The simply promise of long-term development for many is not going to inspire people trying to survive today. None of this can be changed without improved security, obviously. I cannot imagine a place like this getting better without improved governance, which seems a long way off in Easter DRC these days.
