Joe Ga arrived in 'Butembo,' the capital of North-Kivu Province, on a Mi-8 Hip helicopter.
This place was the only territory ostensibly under the control of the Congo Government and also a hub for mining companies from around the world.
The situation was bizarre!
The mining companies from Europe and America needed a chaotic North-Kivu Province so that they could plunder the mining resources at low prices.
Yet, they also required a legitimate status and legal export procedures, which is why it was vital for Butembo, this administrative center, to remain stable.
Investments from around the world made the infrastructure of the city of Butembo seem reasonable, but once you left the city limits of Butembo by more than 30 kilometers, the influence of the government was practically nonexistent.
