Three Chinese nationals were sentenced to seven years in DRC for illegal possession of gold bars, cash, and violating mining laws.

Three Chinese nationals have been sentenced to seven years in prison in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after being caught with gold bars and large sums of cash. The court in Bukavu, the capital of the gold-rich South Kivu province, delivered the sentence late Tuesday, charging the men with illegal purchase and possession of minerals.

The three individuals, who identified themselves during the trial as traders, were arrested in early January while traveling in a car. Authorities confiscated 10 gold bars and $400,000 in cash found in their possession.

The Bukavu court imposed a fine of $600,000 on the men alongside their prison sentences, citing offenses such as "illegal purchase and possession of mineral substances, lack of transparency, traceability in mining activities, and money laundering." Although the charge of "illicit exploitation of minerals" was dropped, the men were also found guilty of "illegal stay" in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their lawyer did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Local authorities have noted that hundreds of mining companies, primarily Chinese-owned, operate in the resource-rich province, often without declaring profits or holding valid permits. In response to these issues, the local government announced last year that it would suspend the activities of companies failing to comply with Congolese law.

Earlier this year, several hundred residents in Bukavu demonstrated against illegal mining activities in the region, calling for the country’s mineral wealth to benefit local communities. Eastern DRC is home to vast reserves of gold, diamonds, and minerals essential for manufacturing mobile phones and electric vehicles. However, this wealth has fueled conflicts in the region for three decades, exacerbated by the resurgence of the M23 armed group in late 2021.