Faced with a gun, what can you do? War and the militarisation of mining in eastern Congo
What is the extent of rebel control of the DRC's mineral wealth?
This paper states that the militarisation of mining in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is prolonging the armed conflict which has been tearing the country apart for more than 12 years. In many parts of the provinces of North and South Kivu, the authors assert, armed groups and the Congolese national army control the trade in cassiterite (tin ore), gold, columbite-tantalite (coltan), wolframite (a source of tungsten) and other minerals. The research testifies that the unregulated nature of the mining sector in eastern DRC, combined with the breakdown of law and order and the devastation caused by the war, has meant that these groups have had unrestricted access to these minerals and have been able to establish lucrative trading networks.
The paper highlights that In their broader struggle to seize economic, political and military power, all the main warring parties have carried out the most horrific human rights abuses, including widespread killings of unarmed civilians, rape, torture and looting, recruitment of child soldiers to fight in their ranks, and forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. The lure of eastern Congo’s mineral riches, the authors determine, is one of the factors spurring them on.
The paper presents a number of recommendations how to curb the trade in the DRC's mineral resources, including:
- measures to cut off warring parties’ access to mining sites in the DRC, as well as international
trade routes and external networks
- ending the impunity protecting those engaged in illicit mineral exploitation and trade, through
actions by the governments of DRC, neighbouring countries and countries where companies
are registered
- thorough due diligence by all companies trading in minerals which may originate from eastern
DRC and stronger corresponding action by their governments to hold accountable those who continue to trade in ways which fuel the conflict.
(adapted from author)
