Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) and local authorities in Rulindo District have strengthened operations against illegal mining activities, which continue to cause disasters and fatalities.

In an operation conducted on Friday, Police apprehended six  people, who were found mining illegally in Rutongo mines located in Akarambi Village, Gatwa Cell in Murambi Sector.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Alexis Rugigana, the Police spokesperson for the Northern region, said that the operations followed complaints from local residents, who were also being affected by the unlawful mining activities.

"Illegal miners were destroying their roads and uprooting trees, which prompted them to report to their local leaders, who in turn called the Police. The suspects were arrested at about 6pm after they were found in the concession," said CIP Rugigana.

He identified the suspects as Tuyisenge Jean Luc, Kwisanga Emmanuel, Musabyimana Olivier, Mpungirehe Vincent, Musabimana Christian and Kabera Donatien.

“Police and local leaders also recovered 27kgs of cassiterite minerals from two other suspects, who escaped."

According to Northern spokesperson, the illegal miners had destroyed residents' infrastructure like roads linking communities and their activities were causing landslides, environmental degradation and soil erosion especially in this rainy season.

"Apart from being illegal, this is suicide; assessing where these suspects were found and the status of the soil, which has been weakened by heavy rains. Landslides are common in these closed concessions and in most cases they result in loss of lives. We urge people to desist from these unlawful and risky practices," CIP Rugigana said.

Law N° 58/2018 of 13/08/2018 on mining and quarry operations, stipulates that; "any person, who undertakes mineral or quarry exploration, exploitation, processing or trading without a license, commits an offence.

Upon conviction, he or she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than two months and not more than six months and a fine of between Rwf1 million and Rwf5 million, or only one of these penalties."

The court also orders confiscation of any seized minerals or quarry in storage, trading or processing without a license.