MCC Resources suspends mining after Ituri attack hits Muchacha sites

Mining company MCC Resources has suspended operations at its Muchacha and Mavuvu sites in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo after an armed attack targeted mining facilities in Ituri province. The suspension followed looting and sabotage during the overnight raid in Mambasa territory.

According to reports, the attack occurred during the night of 11–12 March 2026, when armed fighters stormed mining areas in the Muchacha zone. Facilities were burned, infrastructure damaged and several civilians were reported killed during the violence. Authorities say the assault was claimed by militants linked to the Islamic State affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

In a letter addressed to the military governor of Ituri, MCC Resources said the deteriorating security environment in eastern Congo had already forced the company to evacuate staff weeks before the incident. The company reported that armed groups entered the Muchacha locality and carried out looting and sabotage of mining installations, though no employees were harmed because the site had been vacated earlier.

Following the attack, MCC Resources announced it would suspend all mining activities at the Muchacha/Mavuvu sites from 12 March until further notice, citing high security risks. The company said protecting employees and partners remains its priority while it continues monitoring the security situation to determine when operations might safely resume.

The Congolese government condemned the attack, offering condolences to the victims’ families and expressing solidarity with communities in Mambasa territory, an area frequently affected by armed violence despite ongoing military operations and the state of siege in the eastern provinces.

The incident has renewed debate about the risks faced by mining investors in Ituri, a strategic gold-producing region where armed groups continue to operate despite joint military efforts by Congolese and Ugandan forces.