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Congo releases the majority of Chinese males held for unlawful mining

Democratic Republic of Congo has released 14 of the 17 Chinese guys jailed on suspicion of running an unlawful gold mine in the nation, authorities said late on Tuesday.

The guys, who are travelling back to China, were apprehended last week in addition to others from Congo and neighbouring Burundi after failing to produce the needed files throughout a. crackdown on unlicensed extraction of the minerals in the. central African nation.

Jean-Jacques Purusi Sadiki, the governor of South Kivu, the. province where the guys were detained, informed press reporters he was. surprised to hear news of their release.

The Chinese miners owed $10 million in overdue taxes and. fines to the government, he added.

Around 60 Chinese nationals were at the website and authorities. detained the 17 who appeared to be in charge.

The Chinese embassy in Kinshasa has not reacted to. ask for comment. Burundi's embassy said it was still. waiting for details from its representative in Bukavu.

Bernard Muhindo, South Kivu's financing minister and acting. mines minister, said the intention was to improve the system.

The idea is not to go on a manhunt, however rather to tidy up. the mining sector so that dependable partners can work properly. and legally, he informed press reporters.

The main African nation says it has been having a hard time to. stop unlicensed business and in many cases armed groups from. exploiting its abundant reserves of cobalt, cooper, gold and other. minerals.

Competition over mining operations has actually fuelled combating in. the region that surrounds Rwanda.

(source: Reuters)