Territoire et déterritorialisation des communautés locales: Perceptions des communautés de luhwindja au sud-kivu face à l 'exploitation industrielle de l 'or

Abstract

We use the concept of “deterritorialization” to explore current perceptions of the local community on the delocalisation strategy by Twangiza mining in the “territory” of Luhwindja in South Kivu, 15 years after the mining company relocated households. A random sample of 250 households were surveyed after 9 semi-structured interviews with key informants and 3 focus groups in 2019. We measure perceptions on the deterritorialization through an index. Results indicate that households of Luhwindja are negative on Twangiza mining’s delocalisation strategy. Perceptions are based on effects of this strategy: limitations of access to market, to business opportunities, to basic infrastructures and to social networks. Twangiza mining delocalization strategy allowed for significant differences in socio-economic characteristics between delocalized and non-delocalized households. In the context of industrial mining in rural communities, the analysis of deterritorialization indicates that the socio-economic aspects of populations are necessary in the perception of communities than other aspects and are factors on which any household relocation policy should be based. For the strategy of delocalisation, we propose to consider the territory in its plurality.