Seminar Report: ‘The conflict in Eastern DRC and mining: are local solutions possible?’

by Margot Leegwater

The ASC, together with IKV Pax Christi and the Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized on 31 January 2013 the seminar ‘The conflict in Eastern DRC and mining: are local solutions possible?’. The purpose of this seminar was to analyze and contextualize the recent political developments and conflicts in this unstable region. Issues discussed concerned the role of local authorities and the national state and conflict-free minerals.

After four presentations by Koen Vlassenroot (Ghent University), Joost van Puijenbroek (IKV Pax Christi), Ken Matthysen (IPIS) and Pim Kraan (Focal Point Natural Resources Ministry of Foreign Affairs) some important conclusions were that artisanal mining is not always related to conflict and that, although an important source of revenue, for rebel groups and militia mining is not the principal source of income. Furthermore the ‘Conflict-Free Tin Initiative’ that the Ministry, together with companies like Royal Philips Electronics, Tata Steel and Motorola, has started in South Kivu in October 2012, seems to improve the working conditions for artisanal mining.

Because of its success (some 60 people attended the seminar) the ASC, IKV Pax Christi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organise another seminar this year about natural resources and conflict in the DRC.