The BBC gets rare access to mine mobile phones

The M23 rebels in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo recently allowed the BBC to visit a large mining site that is important to make a person with no man.

Thousands of miners focus on the scene covered with holes and tunnels.

Others deep digs underneath the shovels, others immediately boasts the sacs with many devices contained, used on their shoulders. They bring it to the assemblies’ points where others wash and filter it with spades and by hand.

“We usually have more than 10,000 or more people who work here every day,” Patrice Musafiri, in charge of Rubaya’s river in April last year, BBC told.

Tricky Tarrain to navigate – Our team needs help with walking sticks, as well as Mr Minfiri’s guidance, despite most of the men this is the only life they know. It may be more dangerous, but they are allowed to make a little living.

“If we were in depth in mines, temperatures are high

“Sometimes cold air is pumped so we can continue to work,” he said.

But the young man said he was grateful that since he started mining five years ago, he saved a little money for a bust and now children.

“My life was changed. The mining helped me.”

Golden seizures on the ground they find me to waste the hills of North Kivu Province – and 15 miles) in the city of rubber – and have 15% of the DR Congo’s total deposits.

It is not surprising that global investors have an eye in this area.

It gives great wealth to many years of various armed groups that keep it at different times, including the army.

We arrived at the mine, close to 10km outside Rubaya town, several days after a stop at Whington by Dr Congo aimed at the end of the three decades in the region.

The roots of the ungrade to the east of Dr. Congo are very important.

There is an ethnic measure, with many groups of rebels operating here – including an ethnic militia involved in the rwandan genocide in 1994, which Kigali believes in the congolese.

In Washington two sides done 27 in June to break and separate their alleged proxies (despite denying anyone).

M23 is not party in the Agreement. Mainly led ethnic to learn, it controlled many parts of the Eastern Dr Congo – and since January controlled the rubber, the town of Bukavu and two airports. Rwanda is charged with most – including the UN – to support M23. However, authorities have denied military shipment or financial aid.

The US involvement in the process as access to access to mineral resources in Dr Congo – even if no one has done more specified.

“We are looking for the United States, many mineral rights from (DR) Congo,” said President Donald Trump ahead of signing.

During our short visit – we are allowed to access in about 45 minutes – no clear that the command chain is about to change.

The supervisor, pointed to M23, want to explain how Rubaya is set-up in the last year and how to allow the Menters to be allowed on the site.

“We’ve already resolved many issues,” Mr Musafiri said.

“Now we have a mining department regulating and monitored safety issues and resolved internal disputes in mines. If a tunnel can be dangerous, people are told to leave to avoid accidents.

“People from different groups come here every day and others buy minerals and now we have a large rubber market where they can sell what they can buy here.”

In December, a un experts’ report detailed how the m23 makes hundreds of thousands of dollars each month from taxing coltan, much of it was sent directly to rwanda – allegations both the m23 and Kigali deny.

It is surrounded by his companions who wear jeans, sweaters and welllington boots, all buying permits to work on the site, Mr Osiasi agrees that circumstances are better.

“It’s good business here because we have the least likeness of peace, but the salary is very small. We have a little fee,” as in the miner.

Trump’s second term includes M23’s seizure to most of the North Kivu and South Kivu rivers and the humble withdrawal of the Congolese army.

Political analyst Aksifu said Dr. Congo decided to use mineral reserves a bargain chip looking for military support.

With a process of setting up peace, he told the good hope of Congolese authorities, so American companies in a position of making the mining sector sector.

US companies reported to watch money on opportunity to invest in Rubaya’s mining sector.

Rubaya’s supervisor tells us to invest, but only initiatives refers to the local economy – with jobs, schools and hospitals – allowed schools.

“Any foreign investor can come here, as long as they have progress for our people and add daily salaries for miners.”

In spite of the many natural endowments of the country, most mining communities have a small infrastructure, with no accessible roads in the mines where wealth is quoted from the ground.

Mr. Tumsifu reckons in American investors can also act as a “take care against fighting or caution in other armed groups”.

But it’s not clear how or who’s an investor with a business provided by the M23 is more controlled to the east.

A resilient effort to meddle with Qatar – which involves direct talks between the armed groups and Governments of Congolese – can provide clarity in the coming months.

The M23, which is part of the broader Alliance in the Congo river, said Washington-supported width that does not know the factors of high conflict. It keeps allocating firearms to protect the rights of the Minority Tutsi group to Dr Congo.

While the bellonerters tried and brushed their desired paths toward peace, local people in the east of the Eastern Dr Congo, with a real thousand of people fleeing their homes.

“My appeal of young people and our leaders is to continue and maintain peace in our area,” Mr Osiasi said.

As he prepares to return for hours of digging, he added: “I also ask the owners of the mines to increase our payment because it is very small.”

Extra reporting BBC’s Robert Kipto and Hassan Lali