Middle East & Africa | Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The richest, riskiest tin mine on Earth

Can an ambitious mine make a difference in eastern Congo?

More than a river to cross
|BISIE

DEEP in the jungle of North Kivu, a lawless province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new road is being cut through the canopy. As birds chirp, hand saws cut noisily through trees. Men with shovels dig out roots and flatten the ochre-red earth. A sturdy new log bridge crosses a stream. On it stands Boris Kamstra, a South African in a plaid shirt and bucket hat. “This is great road-building material,” he booms, gesturing at the stones.

This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The richest, riskiest tin mine on Earth”

Brave new worlds

From the August 27th 2016 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

President Joe Biden shakes hands with President João Manuel Gonçalve Lourenço of the Republic of Angola

America under Joe Biden plays the pragmatist in Africa

Donald Trump is likely to follow suit

Leishmaniasis research by DNDi

New cures for Africa’s most gruesome diseases

Sleeping sickness, riverblindess and more could be tackled


Benin Plaques, 16th-17th centuries. Relief plaque made of brass cast using the cire perdue (lost wax) technique

Nigeria seeks to restore pride in its artefacts, ancient and modern

A new museum in Benin City will showcase “a cauldron of creativity”


Donald Trump’s new Arab pal

Will a Lebanese-American businessman influence the incoming administration in the region?

Israel and Hizbullah strike a fragile deal to end their war

Joe Biden makes a last push to bring peace to the Middle East

The arrest warrant is a diplomatic disaster for Netanyahu

But may also undermine the International Criminal Court