Social and Economic Dynamics of Mining in Kalima, DRC

The paper argues that artisanal mining in Kalima is more beneficial to the local population than industrial mining was, providing higher employment, better income, and more democratic working conditions. While it notes a decline in local farming and a collapse of social services previously provided by industrial companies, it suggests artisanal mining is more environmentally benign than industrial methods, despite the high carbon footprint of flying ore out of the region. The author also analyzes the DRC's punitive export tax regime, which encourages smuggling into Rwanda, and argues that the lack of conflict in Maniema's mining sector contrasts with the resource-fueled violence in the Kivu regions.

• Artisanal mining in Kalima has proven more remunerative for the local working class than industrial mining, with thousands of diggers benefiting from buoyant international commodity prices.
• The social structure of artisanal mining is characterized by shallow, non-monopolistic hierarchies and democratic associations, contrasting with the rigid, colonial-era paternalism of industrial mining.
• The shift to artisanal mining has led to a significant decline in local food production as farmers abandon their fields for mining, contributing to rising malnutrition among the very poor.
• Social service provision in Kalima has collapsed because it was previously dependent on industrial mining companies; the Congolese state has failed to fill this gap.
• Preliminary evidence suggests that artisanal mining is less environmentally destructive than industrial mining, which left permanent 'deep gashes' in the landscape.
• The DRC's high export taxes on cassiterite create a strong incentive for smuggling into Rwanda, where no such export taxes exist for non-traditional exports.
• The Congolese state's over-reliance on international trade taxes is a result of its inability to collect domestic revenue, such as VAT, due to a lack of administrative capacity.
• Unlike the Kivu regions, mining in Maniema province has not been used by militias or warlords to fund military activities, suggesting the link between minerals and conflict is not universal.
• The transport of minerals from Kalima has become more environmentally damaging since the collapse of the rail link to Kalemie, as ore is now flown out via aircraft.

APA

Mthembu-Salter, G. (2009). Social and Economic Dynamics of Mining in Kalima, DRC. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper185.pdf

Chicago

Mthembu-Salter, Gregory. Social and Economic Dynamics of Mining in Kalima, DRC. Institute for Security Studies, 2009. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper185.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mthembu-Salter |first1=Gregory |title=Social and Economic Dynamics of Mining in Kalima, DRC |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=April 2009 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper185.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mthembusalter2009social, author = {Mthembu-Salter, Gregory}, title = {{Social and Economic Dynamics of Mining in Kalima, DRC}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/Paper185.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }