In the province of Lualaba, anger is brewing in the village of Kabombwa. Hundreds of displaced families are currently occupying their land to denounce an expropriation process they deem illegal. They are demanding that the company Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM) review compensation payouts described as derisory.
The breakdown of dialogue is at the root of this reoccupation.
A local resident testified to the general frustration, stating that the relocation was carried out in defiance of the rules and that the community’s numerous approaches had remained unanswered. “It is the company’s silence following our requests that prompted our return here,” he confided, whilst specifying that the families are not moving back to rebuild, but to protest. “TFM does not honour its commitments,” snapped another resident, visibly outraged. She justified the community’s presence on the site by pointing to the blatant breach of the contract that bound the company to the natives of Kabombwa.
Escalation of tensions and opening of the trial of community leaders
This Wednesday, 27 May 2026, tensions escalated with the opening of the trial of eight community leaders, who were arrested nearly a month ago. On the demonstrators’ placards, the messages were unequivocal: “No to intimidation”, “Community rights are non-negotiable”.The population is demanding the immediate release of its representatives.
After denouncing the company’s breach of agreements, the same female resident did not hide her anger at the judicial turn of events: “We returned to our land solely to find a peaceful solution to the problem. Instead, however, the company had our leaders arrested on a public holiday,” she said indignantly.
Faced with what she characterises as an injustice, her demand is now clear: “We call on TFM to immediately release our imprisoned brothers.”Mobilisation at the Lubudi magistrates’ court and distress of familiesThe mobilisation has spread to the Lubudi magistrates’ court (tribunal de paix) in the commune of Fungurume.
Women and children are gathering there, wavering between impatience and hope for justice. Amidst the crowd, the cry of distress from another woman illustrates the dramatic impact of this crisis on households’ daily lives: “I am here to demand the release of my husband, who was also arrested in Kabombwa,” she confided, on the verge of tears. She explained that her husband managed a health centre which constituted the family’s sole source of income.
Beyond the injustice of this arrest, she denounced living conditions that have become hellish: “In the village, the acid emitted from the TFM facilities has made us ill. Life there has quite simply become unlivable.”
Civil society speaks out against the politicisation of the justice system
Faced with this crisis, the civil society organisations IPDHOR and AFREEWATCH are speaking out. In a joint statement, they expressed outrage over this prolonged detention, which they claim was orchestrated in flagrant violation of the Mining Regulations. The two organisations point out that these communities are already suffering from pollution caused by TFM’s lime plant, which is a source of serious illnesses.
They firmly denounce the manipulation of the justice system, which aims, in their words, to silence protests.IPDHOR and AFREEWATCH are calling on the Congolese state to fulfil its role as protector of citizens and are urgently requesting mineral buyers to demand strict compliance with human rights from TFM.
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