South Kivu

South Kivu is a province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Its capital is Bukavu, a city situated on the southern shore of Lake Kivu at the border with Rwanda. The province is characterised by a mountainous terrain and a diverse economic base centred on agriculture, mining and cross-border trade. South Kivu is rich in mineral resources, including gold, cassiterite (tin ore), coltan (columbite-tantalite), cobalt, copper and lithium, which have attracted both artisanal and industrial mining operations. The mining sector plays a significant role in the provincial economy, though it has also been associated with governance challenges and conflict financing in the broader Great Lakes region. Agriculture remains the primary livelihood for much of the population, with coffee, tea and food crops cultivated in the fertile highlands. The province shares borders with North Kivu to the north, Maniema to the west, Tanganyika to the south, and Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania to the east, making it a strategic corridor for regional trade. South Kivu has experienced recurring insecurity linked to armed groups and displacement, which has affected economic development and humanitarian conditions. The province was established in its current form following administrative reorganisations in the post-independence period, and it continues to be a focal point for efforts to formalise artisanal mining and improve governance in the extractive sector.