Chinese Mining Companies in the DRC Are Once Again Revving Up Their PR Efforts in a Bid to Improve Their Image

The photo and text from a Sicomines Tweet was copied verbatim and re-posted on the Congolese news site Actualite.cd -- most likely as part of a paid media campaign.

If there was any doubt that Chinese mining companies were paying for positive media coverage in the Congolese press, a pair of tweets on Wednesday (photo) should settle the issue. The Sino-Congolese mining giant Sicomines touted its presence at the China International Import Expo that took place in Shanghai earlier this month and the identical text and photo were posted on the Twitter feed of the popular DRC news site Actualite.cd.

Over the summer and throughout the fall, Chinese mining companies pushed back against President Félix Tshisekedi’s drive to review controversial mining deals that critics contend were weighted too much in favor of the Chinese companies. This led to a wave of PR in the Congolese media that showcased Chinese mining companies in a favorable light.

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by Eric Olander

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