Uige: The governor of Uige province, Jos© Carvalho da Rocha, on Friday denounced the existence of illegal gold mining in the municipality of Songo, 40 kilometres from the provincial capital. Speaking to the press at the end of the Interior Minister’s two-day visit to Uge province, Jos© Carvalho da Rocha admitted that the illegal gold mining situation in this municipality, as well as in several other localities in the region, was “blatant”.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the governor expressed concern over the illegal gold mining activities in Songo, describing it as a significant issue. He emphasized the need for tighter controls on movement along the 400km border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the mining activities attract both nationals and citizens from the neighbouring country.
The governor acknowledged the efforts of the National Police and other Ministry of the Interior bodies in combating illegal immigration and related issues. He recognized the importance of improving border control to curb these illegal activities in the province. Furthermore, Jos© Carvalho da Rocha advocated for educational initiatives to inform the population about the dangers posed by illegal immigration, fuel smuggling, and the illegal exploitation of mining resources.
Uge province, characterized by its rugged terrain of plains, basins, and mountain ranges, covers an area of 58,698 km2. It shares borders with the province of Zaire to the west, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north and east, the province of Malanje to the south-east, and the provinces of Cuanza Norte and Bengo to the south.
