The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is extremely rich in natural resources, including diamonds, the country’s most valued export With [1] . Yet the diamond trade has not generated the significant benefits that might have been expected for the Congolese population. An irony of fate: the inhabitants of Eastern Kasai province, where most of the diamonds are found, is one of the poorest in the DRC - and the situation is certainly not improving. The Société minière de Bakwanga (MIBA), the main diamond mining company in the country, has been on the verge of bankruptcy for several months. Payment of the 6,000 workers’ salaries is now 8 months in arrears and no distribution of food to workers’ families has been made for over three years. Considering the importance of this company for the regional economy, the inhabitants of the entire province and the economy of the whole country are adversely affected. Responsible management is unquestionably the key to the region’s stability and economic growth. But the measures proposed by the government to alleviate the suffering of the workers and their families are insufficient.

MIBA is the industrial and mining giant of Eastern Kasai. This firm was established in 1961 when the first diamonds were found in the Mbuji Mayi River. In the first five years its concession of 45,000 km² produced an average of 6 million carats of diamonds annually. In addition to its initial mission of mining diamonds, MIBA is a key player in the socio-economic development of the town of Mbuji Mayi, of Eastern Kasai and even of the country as a whole, via its schools, hospitals, hydro-electric system and even its housing. The state owns an 80% share in the company but owes US$ 64 million to MIBA, which itself has debts amounting to US$ 140 million.

Striking miners and unionists reduced to silence

The employees of the mining company had been denouncing the deterioration of their working and living conditions for several months when, after unsuccessfully giving strike notice a number of times, they decided to go on strike on 23 April 2007. They were supported by the trade union federation led by the FOSYCO (Force syndicale congolaise).

The workers have many reasons for discontent: the dilapidated state of equipment, the lack of security in the quarries, considerable arrears in payment of wages, abolition of social benefits such as the monthly distribution of food to the workers’ families, absence of medical care and means of transport to their place of work, etc. Not only are the miners’ working conditions extremely difficult and dangerous, they are also currently plunged into hunger and misery and live like "tramps reduced to begging" [2] . Far from having their demands taken into account, a week after the strike started the trade union leaders were summoned by the governor of Eastern Kasai province, in the presence and under pressure of the army, the police, the intelligence services and MIBA managers, and were solemnly warned not to continue the strike. In the following days the main FOSYCO leaders, considered as the initiators of the conflict, received death threats daily (SMS, anonymous phone calls or threats via third persons). On 14 May a peaceful demonstration by MIBA employees expressing their indignation outside the company’s head office was brutally dispersed. Several demonstrators were seriously injured. The local press, loyal to the authorities, refused to publish their communiqués.

Appeal to the government to protect the interests of the people

Faced with the strikers’ determination, the Minister of Portfolio, Jeanne Mabunda, finally received a trade union delegation in Kinshasa on Monday 7 May 2007. That same afternoon payment of a part of the overdue wages started on the MIBA mines and the following Wednesday work was slowly resumed after a 16-day strike. However, many workers still refused to return to work. They demanded the resignation of the MIBA management committee which they saw as responsible for the risk of bankruptcy and unable to guarantee the miners’ security in the quarries.

After an extraordinary general assembly of the MIBA board of directors, the Minister finally dismissed all the members of the management committee. A new team was appointed for an interim period of two months but failed to meet the workers’ approval.

To assist MIBA in dealing with its financial crisis, the government reportedly borrowed US$ 11 million from a private bank, in which it mortgaged the firm’s mining rights. But this sum is hopelessly insufficient to pay the workers’ overdue wages, which now amount to US$ 20 million. Moreover, in the highly probable event of MIBA not being able to repay its debt, it is likely to be broken up and taken over by private interests [3] . FOSYCO representatives fear that the government is trying to "sell off this firm, as it has already done with others". They are appealing to international solidarity to "prevent this transfer, and demand a solution that takes everyone’s interests into account".

FURTHER INFORMATION

The social mobilization of workers at MIBA is supported by the 12 most representative trade union organizations in the country, including FOSYCO (Force syndicale congolaise), the CTP (Confédération des travailleurs et paysans), the CDT (Confédération démocratique du travail) and the UNTC (Union nationale des travailleurs du Congo).

In France the CGT is relaying the appeal of its partners at FOSYCO. The CGT guarantees its support to all trade union leaders and activists in the DRC who courageously and concertedly fight for workers’ rights. It has joined Peuples Solidaires in requesting its members to write to the Prime Minister of the DRC care of the Ambassador of the RDC in France.

In a report published in June 2006 on reform of the diamond sector in the DRC, the non-profit organization Global Witness shows why diamond companies such as MIBA go insolvent. The report notes that "MIBA ... shows no profits, and millions of dollars disappear due to corruption, fraud and theft". See the Global Witness website: www.globalwitness.org

WRITE!
By letter: copy or download the standard letter below or use your own wording. Remember to add your name, address and signature.
By e-mail : ambacongoparis@yahoo.fr
Support message: to give FOSYCO an idea of the support on which they can rely, send them the message below. You can also send an email to FOSYCO at: saimut@yahoo.fr
Reaction time: On reception and until 15 July 2007.

PROTEST LETTER

Ambassade de la République démocratique du Congo en France
Pour M. le Premier ministre de RDC, aux bons soins de M. l’Ambassadeur de RDC en France
32 cours Albert 1er de Belgique
75008 Paris

Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, Je vous saurais gré de faire parvenir le message ci-dessous à son Excellence Monsieur le Premier ministre de RDC.

Monsieur le Premier ministre,

J’ai été informé(e) par le Réseau-Solidarité de Peuples Solidaires de la grave détérioration des conditions de travail et de vie des employés de la MIBA et notamment des retards considérables de salaires accumulés par l’entreprise. Après la grève d’avril dernier, des représentants des travailleurs ont été menacés à plusieurs reprises et seul un mois de salaire a été versé. L’Etat aurait contracté un prêt de 11 millions de dollars en hypothéquant auprès d’une banque privée les certificats miniers et des titres d’exploitation des gisements de l’entreprise.

Je suis extrêmement préoccupé(e) par la situation des travailleurs de la MIBA et j’exhorte les autorités de votre pays à :
  assurer le paiement de l’intégralité des arriérés de salaires ainsi que des rémunérations en vivres;
  assurer la totale sécurité des travailleurs, des syndiqués et des responsables syndicaux;
  empêcher que l’entreprise ne soit bradée au mépris des intérêts des travailleurs, de la province du Kasaï oriental et de la RDC. Je vous prie d’agréer, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, l’expression de ma très haute considération.

TRANSLATION

Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Congo in France
For the attention of His Excellency the Prime Minister of DRC, care of the Ambassador of DRC in France
32 Cours Albert 1er de Belgique
75008 Paris
France

Yours faithfully,

SUPPORT MESSAGE TO FOSYCO

Peuples Solidaires
pour la FOSYCO
10, quai de Richemont
35000 RENNES

Chers amis de la FOSYCO,

J’ai été informé(e) par le Réseau-Solidarité de Peuples Solidaires de la grave détérioration des conditions de travail et de vie des travailleurs de la MIBA et notamment des retards considérables de salaires accumulés par l’entreprise. J’ai également été alerté(e) des menaces proférées à votre encontre après le début de la grève en avril dernier et du risque de démembrement de la MIBA. Je soutiens votre action et ai envoyé une lettre au Premier ministre de RDC via l’Ambassadeur de RDC en France, l’exhortant à répondre immédiatement à vos demandes.

Solidairement,

TRANSLATION

Dear Friends at FOSYCO,

Best regards,

NOTE:

CONCERNING THE SENDING OF YOUR LETTER:

Since post in DRC is particularly slow, and since this is an urgent action, the FOSYCO representatives request you to send your protest letters to the Ambassador of the DRC in France, who will transmit them to the Prime Minister of his country. For the same reason, we request that you send your support messages to Peuples Solidaires (10, quai de Richemont 35000 RENNES). We will forward them to our friends at FOSYCO.

[1] 9.1 million carats produced in 2003, accounting for 16.5% of world production, the DRC is the third biggest industrial diamond producer in the world, after Australia and Russia (figures for 2003, source: L’état du monde, 2005).

[2] Article published in the newspaper La Prospérité (Kinshasa), 9 May 2007.

[3] This is what happened to another mining giant, the firm Générale des carrières et des mines (Gecamines).