Preface. -- Summary. -- Abbreviations. -- Map of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. -- Introduction. -- Mineral production and trade. -- Militarization of mines and trading chains. -- Non-military responses. -- Conclusions and recommendations
Summary
Mineral resources have played a crucial role in fuelling protracted armed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Illegal armed groups, state forces and civilian authorities are all involved in illicit rent seeking from the mineral sector, with serious repercussions for security, human rights and development. This Policy Paper examines the the prospects for and interactions between various trade- and security related initiatives that are aimed at demilitarizing the supply chains of key minerals. It also describes the changing context in which such initiatives operate following a series of military campaigns against illegal armed groups. Finally, it offers policy recommendations for how the Congolese Government and international actors can coordinate and strengthen their responses in order to break resource-conflict links in eastern DRC
