Rwanda uses flying machines called drones to catch people who mine illegally. These drones help the police find miners who break the law, especially in hard-to-reach places.
The police work together with other groups to protect the land and make sure mining happens safely. They started using drones in June 2024, and these flying helpers have already caught many people who were mining without permission in different parts of Rwanda.
Police officer Boniface Rutikanga explained that illegal miners would sometimes fight with local leaders who tried to stop them. This made it very difficult to keep mining safe and fair. The police arrested more than 20 people who led these illegal operations between September and December 2024.
The drones can see large areas of land very quickly from high up in the air. However, the police still need people on the ground to catch the miners. Francis Kamanzi, who leads the mining board, said they work closely with the police to check mining areas, especially in hilly places where it's hard to walk.
When they found people breaking the rules, they took away 55 mining licenses. Some miners were digging near rivers and washing minerals in the water, which hurt the environment. The drones help catch people who try to mine at night when they think nobody will see them.
Rwanda strengthened the punishment for illegal mining in 2024. If someone mines without permission, they might be jailed for two to five years and fined at least 25 million Rwandan francs. Companies that break the rules must pay even more money.
Rwanda wants to earn more money from proper mining. By 2029, it hopes to earn $2.17 billion from selling minerals, almost twice the amount it earned in 2023.
The police work together with other groups to protect the land and make sure mining happens safely. They started using drones in June 2024, and these flying helpers have already caught many people who were mining without permission in different parts of Rwanda.
Police officer Boniface Rutikanga explained that illegal miners would sometimes fight with local leaders who tried to stop them. This made it very difficult to keep mining safe and fair. The police arrested more than 20 people who led these illegal operations between September and December 2024.
The drones can see large areas of land very quickly from high up in the air. However, the police still need people on the ground to catch the miners. Francis Kamanzi, who leads the mining board, said they work closely with the police to check mining areas, especially in hilly places where it's hard to walk.
When they found people breaking the rules, they took away 55 mining licenses. Some miners were digging near rivers and washing minerals in the water, which hurt the environment. The drones help catch people who try to mine at night when they think nobody will see them.
Rwanda strengthened the punishment for illegal mining in 2024. If someone mines without permission, they might be jailed for two to five years and fined at least 25 million Rwandan francs. Companies that break the rules must pay even more money.
Rwanda wants to earn more money from proper mining. By 2029, it hopes to earn $2.17 billion from selling minerals, almost twice the amount it earned in 2023.
