The Impact of the Mining Industry on the Local Population in Southern Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is endowed with vast mineral resources, particularly in its southern provinces of Lualaba and Haut‑Katanga, which host some of the world’s largest deposits of cobalt and copper. Despite this mineral wealth, communities living in mining‑affected areas continue to experience persistent poverty, environmental degradation, and social marginalization. This study examined the impact of the mining industry on the socio-economic well-being of local populations in southern DRC, focusing on economic livelihoods, social and cultural conditions, and health and environmental outcomes. The study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm and a qualitative‑dominant mixed‑methods design. Primary data were collected from 144 respondents through in‑depth interviews, focus group discussions, and field observation across Kolwezi, Likasi, and Lubumbashi. Quantitative descriptive and inferential analyses were used to complement qualitative findings. Results indicate that mining proximity is strongly associated with negative welfare outcomes, including reduced income adequacy, food insecurity, weakened social cohesion, environmental contamination, and adverse health indicators. Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships between mining proximity and heavy metal exposure (r = 0.82, p < 0.001) and between contamination and respiratory illness (r = 0.79, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that mining proximity, environmental contamination, land displacement, governance deficit, and gender vulnerability jointly explained 68 percent of the variation in community well-being. The study concludes that mining‑related harm in southern DRC is structurally generated and reinforced by weak governance frameworks. It recommends strengthened regulatory enforcement, mandatory community participation, gender‑responsive policies, and transparent revenue‑sharing mechanisms.