Rwanda National Police

Police in Gakenke District have cautioned residents against illegal mining activities, which in some cases leads to disasters and loss of lives.

The warning follows an operation mid this week in which six people were arrested mining illegally in Coko Sector.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Roger Rwakayiro, the District Police Commander (DPC) for Gakenke said the suspects were arrested in Rutamba well.

They are Pierre Mpariyabarimba, 29,  Elaste Nshimiyimana, 25, Vedaste Dufashingabo, 28, Pascal Bansibaniye, 45, Said Bamenyayabo, 29, and Vianney Dushimiyimana, 29.

The arrest came few days after other illegal miners were caught in a concession located in Ruli Sector also in Gakenke.

"Majority of illegal miners use the cover of the night, which itself is dangerous because anything can happen in that darkness, that's how some of them tamper with weak cliffs causing landslides, and some people have died in such scenarios," the DPC said.

He explained that illegal mining activities in wells and rivers also affect such water bodies and turn them brown.

"These activities are not only unlawful and risky, but they also effect the economy and the environment. We appeal to the public to join efforts against them by sharing information on people involved and locations where they're conducted," CIP Rwakayiro said.

He also urged owners of mining concessions to take precaution against illegal mining activities and theft of minerals in their sites.

Gakenke is rich in cassiterite and wolfram, and the DPC warned that "operations are continious" to arrest anyone found in such unlawful acts.

Article 54 of the law on mining and quarry operations, states that “any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a licence commits an offence.”
 
Upon conviction, the offender is liable to imprisonment for a term of between two and six months and a fine of not less than Rwf1 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.