DRC's Kabila set for Kibaki talks over gold syndicate

Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila is in Nairobi for talks with President Kibaki over a gold smuggling syndicate involving the two countries.

The Police top brass has been summoned to give an update of their ongoing investigations on the matter.

Investigators say the precious metal is stolen from DRC and smuggled to overseas markets through Kenya.

Already, the mineral-rich country has requested Interpol to track suspected smugglers and seize any consignments on transit in Kenya.

In the latest incident, some 2.5 tonnes of the mineral, with an estimated value of Sh9 billion, was stolen from Eastern Congo last month.

It is suspected that the consignment was headed for Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The DRC officials requested local authorities to arrest the culprits, intercept the haul and surrender it to Kinshasa.

Consequently, a senior Criminal Investigation Department officer has been instructed to lead the hunt for the precious consignment.

The illegal trade raises security concerns because of the huge amount of money the mineral attracts in the black market, with authorities fearing that unscrupulous traders could use the wealth to purchase weapons and fuel fighting in an already volatile region.

Last week, DR Congo’s Regional and International Cooperation minister, Mr Raymond Tshibanda, and his Mining counterpart, Mr Martin Kabwelulu, visited Kenya in a bid to foster relations and in turn help stop the trade.

Sources from the Foreign Affairs ministry said the two met President Kibaki at Harambee House and delivered a message from President Joseph Kabila on the issue.

President Kibaki is said to have pledged support to end the illegal trade. Already, the government has enhanced screening of imports at points of entry. Customs officials have also been put on alert over illegal shipments.