Three Chinese nationals have been arrested in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) with 12 gold bars and $800,000 (£650,000) in cash. According to Jean Jacques Purusi, the governor of South Kivu province, the gold and money were hidden under the seats of the vehicle they were travelling in. The arrests occurred in the Walungu area, near the border with Rwanda, after authorities received a tip-off that led to a thorough search of the vehicle.

The governor noted that the operation was kept confidential due to the recent release of another group of Chinese nationals accused of operating an illegal gold mine in the region. Eastern DR Congo is known for its abundance of gold, diamonds, and minerals used in mobile phone and electric vehicle batteries. However, the area has faced instability for decades, with militia groups controlling many mines and selling minerals to intermediaries who often have connections to influential figures in the capital, Kinshasa.

These arrests come amid ongoing fighting in the neighbouring North Kivu province, where a Rwanda-backed rebel group has captured significant territory. Last month, DR Congo filed a lawsuit against Apple over the use of "blood minerals," which led the tech giant to cease sourcing materials from DR Congo and Rwanda. Rwanda has denied being a conduit for the export of illegal minerals from DR Congo. The lawsuit claims that minerals extracted from conflict zones are laundered through international supply chains, which fuels violence and finances militias.

The governor's remarks underscore the challenges faced by authorities in combatting the illegal mineral trade in eastern DR Congo. The region's mineral wealth has been exploited by foreign entities since colonial times, and efforts to reform the sector have been hampered by corruption and influence peddling. The arrests of the Chinese nationals mark a significant development in the ongoing struggle to bring transparency and accountability to the region's mining industry.