The collapse of a bridge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reignited the debate over tin mining revenues
On June 3, 2026, a wooden bridge over the Luhokho River collapsed in the village of Khombo in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a video released by France 24, at least seven people appeared to be in the water, trying to keep from being swept away by the current. According to two local media sources, there were no fatalities as a result of the incident.
The bridge connected Khombo-North and Khombo-East—parts of the village on opposite banks of the river that belong to different administrative sectors. Local journalist Augustin Mbula said that the crossing is vital for transportation, trade, and food supply: Khombo-North receives a significant portion of its food from the fields in Khombo-East. According to him, local sources had already reported food shortages.
Residents have built a temporary crossing, but consider it extremely dangerous. A video from July 17, filmed on market day, shows a crowd of people crossing the rickety bridge one by one.
Kombo is located in a remote part of the Walikale territory in North Kivu province. According to France 24’s sources, many bridges and roads in Walikale are in a state of disrepair. In late April 2026, two bridges collapsed within 24 hours in this area; two people, including a child, were killed in one of the incidents. On some sections of National Road No. 3 between Walikale and Bukavu, vehicles cannot pass.
For more breaking news, follow the UA.News Telegram channel.
The Bisie industrial tin mine, operated by Alphamin Resources, is located in the Valikale area. According to France 24, the company produces about 7% of the world’s tin. The company reported that since 2020, it has paid the equivalent of 13 million euros to North Kivu Province and over 7.8 million euros to the Vananga sector, where the mine is located.
Emmanuel Umpula, executive director of African Resources Watch, stated that under DR Congo law, mining companies are required to transfer 0.3% of their annual revenue to a special development fund. According to his estimate, nearly 4% of these funds are spent by the supervisory committee, and significant expenditures are also associated with project implementation. Alphamin confirmed the amount of the contribution and stated that the process of implementing such projects is lengthy and controversial.
Michel Moto Muhima, a representative from Walikale, reported that sector authorities are attempting to begin work on repairing the bridge. Alphamin also stated that it has dispatched a technical team to the site to determine a possible solution to the problem.
