Outline of the Practices Surrounding the Relocation of Local Communities by Local Mining Companies in Kolwezi: A Criminological Analysis

This article examines the relocation strategies of local communities by mining companies in Kolwezi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopting a criminological approach. Using a qualitative methodology, the study identifies three main actors: the State, local communities, and international mining companies. State government bodies issue mining permits and oversee their enforcement. Local communities, facing land-related issues, experience relocations, whether voluntary or involuntary. Mining companies, as permit holders, raise ethical concerns, including the inflation of relocation costs, mining pressure, undervaluation of compensation, and even forced evictions. The results highlight land conflicts and economic influence in these relocations. In conclusion, the article advocates for a criminological approach to understanding the social and economic dynamics of local community relocation in the complex mining context of Kolwezi, suggesting a thorough reflection on the implications of these practices. Local communities often find themselves abandoned by the state, or they are tricked into paying compensation to find other places to live, but the local committee members, including the state agents assigned to the case, sometimes manage to embezzle the money donated by the company for the benefit of the communities affected by the relocation. That is the reason for this research, which can also be a denunciation on our part, as well as a plea on behalf of the victims who remain powerless in the face of these practices.