Updated

Twenty-seven Kolwezi residents in the Democratic Republic of Congo have sued the Chinese-controlled miner COMMUS, accusing it of polluting their water, air and soil. Mongabay reported on November 10, 2026, that the case was announced in a November 3 statement by Afrewatch and RAID, which support the plaintiffs. Residents say the company polluted and diverted a stream they once fished from and used for washing, that fish have vanished, that the water causes skin problems and that the air irritates their faces. Eight children are among the plaintiffs, and residents say authorities never helped them. The first hearing took place November 3 before the Commercial Court of Kolwezi, and the article does not describe any ruling. The suit also names the Congolese government and the Environment Agency, which residents accuse of failing to police the mine. They seek about $1.3 million in compensation and $5 million to restore the environment, and want COMMUS ordered to stop the pollution, clean up and provide safe water. Mongabay also noted that a 2013 Kipushi case won liability findings without compensation, and that a 2024 study found high airborne particle levels in Kolwezi without linking them to COMMUS.