The Dutch NGO PAX published on Wednesday 17 September 2025 a report according to which the illegal mining of gold by nationals Chinese, together with Congolese partners, has seriously damaged more than 250 kilometers of waterways since the end of 2020 in the province of Haut-Uélé, in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while disrupting the traditional way of life of local communities.

The PAX report highlights that mining activities semi-industrial involving Chinese nationals are involved in a context marked by a global gold rush, fuelled by the surge in the price of this precious metal over the last decade. Entitled “DRC: a The illegal gold rush in Haut-Uélé has devastated rivers and harmed populations”, the report is based on an analysis of satellite images as well as on visits to mining sites, an analysis of official documents and interviews with civil society activists, victims and local officials.

According to the document, minors targeted the courses of water and their banks, which they exploited semi-industrially, day and night, using heavy equipment. They dug over areas of 50 to 400 meters wide, often along tens of kilometers of rivers and streams, according to satellite images.

The report pointed out that minors active in the Haut-Uélé operate under the guise of “artisanal mining cooperatives”, composed exclusively of Congolese nationals, and working in” partnership” with Chinese nationals who would provide them with support technical and financial. These cooperatives, which operate under the protection of members of the Congolese army and police, do not benefit from authorizations provided for by the Congolese Mining Code and do not respect the standards in terms of environmental and social responsibility.