KIGALI – Rwanda’s mining sector is facing renewed scrutiny after lawmakers warned that illegal mining and abandoned extraction sites are posing serious risks to communities, the environment and public health.
A recent report by the Office of the Auditor General of State Finances shows that the country requires more than Rwf26 billion (about $17.7 million) to rehabilitate 994 inactive mining concessions spread across different parts of the country.
Many of these sites remain unrecovered, leaving open pits that threaten activities of nearby residents and contribute to environmental degradation.
Lawmakers reviewing the report said abandoned mining sites expose communities to accidents while also damaging land and water systems.
In some districts, particularly in the Southern and Western provinces, legislators also found that mining operations have been conducted close to residential areas, a practice considered illegal because it increases the risk of water contamination and soil degradation.
Parliament has since summoned the Ministry of Local Government and the Rwanda Development Board to explain the measures being taken to address illegal mining and improve oversight of the sector.
Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security Deputy Chairperson Jean Claude Ntezimana said the institutions have six months to report back to Parliament with concrete solutions.
Mercury pollution raises health concerns
Members of Parliament also warned about the environmental and public health dangers linked to illegal mining, particularly the use of mercury during gold processing. Egide Nkuranga said illegal miners often use chemicals that contaminate rivers and ecosystems.
“People involved in illegal mining often use chemicals that cause significant pollution. Mercury is commonly used in the purification of gold. After mixing it with the mineral and heating it to separate the gold, the remaining mercury is often discarded, usually into nearby water bodies.” Nkuranga said.
He explained that once mercury enters water systems it spreads through aquatic ecosystems and can eventually reach humans through the food chain.
“The biggest concern is what happens afterward. Fish in those waters absorb the contaminants and people eventually consume those fish. This means the toxic substance ultimately reaches humans,” he said.
Rising illegal mining cases and safety risks
Lawmakers say the challenge is worsened by weak enforcement and delays in issuing mining licenses, which allow illegal operations to persist in some areas.
A parliamentary report shows that more than 1,300 cases related to illegal mining were recorded between 2020 and 2025, occurring in rivers, farmland, forests and abandoned mining pits.
Odette Uwamariya Wibabara revealed that the human cost has also been severe. Between 2020 and 2024, at least 394 people died and 187 were injured in mining-related incidents, many linked to unsafe practices and non-compliance with regulations.
Lawmakers are now calling for stronger monitoring and scientific research to better understand the environmental impact of illegal mining. They propose that the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board work with universities and research institutions to study affected areas and support better policy decisions.
During parliamentary oversight visits, suspicious activities have already been observed. Hope Tumukunde said lawmakers encountered individuals processing minerals who quickly fled when officials arrived.
“During some of our visits we found people processing minerals and then disappearing quickly,” she said.
Parliamentarians believe that rehabilitating abandoned mining sites, tightening regulation and eliminating illegal extraction will be essential to protecting communities and ensuring Rwanda’s mining sector grows sustainably.
