Congo to Crack Down on Mineral Buyers Linked to Conflict in East

Daba Finance/Congo to Crack Down on Mineral Buyers Linked to Conflict in the East

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYOctober 7, 2024 at 4:15 PM UTC

TLDR

DRC intensifies efforts to halt mineral sourcing from conflict-ridden east, warning Apple & probing other companies.
Legal actions pursued, sanctions demanded on Rwandan leaders for conflict role.
US and EU impose sanctions on Rwanda, Congo officers, and M23 members linked to violence.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying efforts to clamp down on companies sourcing minerals from its conflict-ridden eastern region, where mineral smuggling is fueling a humanitarian crisis.

The government has already warned Apple Inc. about its possible connections to violence through purchases of tin, tantalum, and gold from eastern Congo, and is investigating other companies, according to Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner.

The DRC is exploring legal actions and calling for sanctions on Rwandan leaders for their role in the ongoing conflict. The U.S. and EU have already sanctioned officers from both Rwanda and Congo, as well as members of M23, for their involvement in the violence.

Key Takeaways

The DRC’s efforts to hold companies accountable for their mineral sourcing reflect broader concerns about the role of supply chains in fueling conflicts. Eastern Congo’s vast mineral wealth, including tantalum essential for portable electronics, has fueled conflicts for nearly 30 years. Smuggling costs the country billions of dollars annually. The region’s largest tantalum mine, Rubaya, was seized by the rebel group M23 earlier this year, with reports suggesting Rwanda's involvement in supporting the militia, an allegation Rwanda denies.

DRC

Congo

Mining

Apple

Lithium

Economy