DRC opens Africa\\\'s largest gold mine

DR Congo, one of the world's biggest gold producers, on Friday formally opened one of the continent's largest gold mines in the far northeast of the country. Production at the Kibali mine started in the third quarter of 2013 but Mining Minister Martin Kabwelulu on Friday attended an official ceremony in the Province-Orientale region. Kibali Goldmines, which develops the mine, is a joint venture 45 percent owned by South African mining firm Randgold Resources, with another 45 percent stake held by South Africa's AngloGold Ashanti and 10 percent by the Congolese state. The $2.5-billion project reportedly created 7,000 jobs, 80 percent of them held by Congolese, according to AFP.