The mining town of Kolwezi, in the heart of the "copper belt," is gripped by serious concern. The discovery of radioactive ore on the T17 tailings site , an area under the Kamoto Copper Company 's permit, has triggered a major health alert. While the natural presence of uranium in the region may explain this phenomenon, the authorities' lack of transparency regarding the true extent of the contamination is fueling public anxiety.

An immediate health threat

The Congolese government has officially declared the situation a "radiological emergency." However, beyond the words, uncertainty remains:

1. Lack of figures: No precise measurement of the radioactivity level has been communicated.
2. Cumulative risks: In addition to uranium, civil society reports the presence of lead. This crisis comes on top of recent sulfur dioxide emissions from nearby mines.
3. Direct impact: More than 100,000 people live in the immediate vicinity of the contaminated site.

The cry of alarm from the people

For residents of the Gécamines Kolwezi and Musonoie neighborhoods, daily life has become a struggle for survival. Local accounts describe a deteriorating humanitarian situation.

"We are being asked not to consume the borehole water, but water is life. How are we supposed to do that? The air is polluted, families are sick and the condition of young children is deplorable." — Patrick Mbikayi , resident near the site.

The security measures demanded

Faced with what Minister Marie-Thérèse Sombo describes as a "major risk to national security", civil society is demanding a firm response in three points:

1. Immediate securing of the perimeter of the T17 embankment.
2. Urgent evacuation of all operators (including artisanal miners) present on the site.
3. Quarantine of people already exposed to radiation.

In summary

Risk factor	Current situation
Source	T17 backfill (artisanal and industrial operation)
Substances	Uranium, contaminated cobalt, lead, sulfur dioxide
exposed population	+100,000 people
Official status	Radiological emergency declared, but lack of technical data