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A FAIR SHARE FOR THE CONGO IN MINING CONTRACTS.
The people of the Democratic
Republic of the Congo held their first democratic elections on October
29th 2006 which resulted in Joseph Kabila being installed as
Congo’s first freely elected President in thirty years.
The Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC) is a potentially rich nation but war and civil conflicts
have ruined the country. Congo DR has the second longest river after the
Amazon and contains the largest forest in the world. Congo DR is rich
in mineral wealth, holds 34 % of world cobalt and 15% of the world’s
copper. It has vast reserves in diamonds and gold, as well as coltan
which is used in cell phones.
This mineral wealth has lead
many multinational companies to scramble for mining concessions in
Congo. However, the manner in which some mining concessions were signed
is questionable and unfavorable to the interests of the Congolese
people. Some of the concessions were contracted in the midst of Congo’s
conflict and are thus vulnerable to corruption.
Today, the people in Congo DR
are struggling for resources to be used in local development and for
reintegration into societies after the horrific war where torture,
displacement, child soldiers and rape of women was a common phenomenon.
The high rate of HIV/AIDS is another issue which requires immediate
attention.
Congolese nationals and
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are now starting to challenge
these mining deals so that the people of the Congo would benefit from
their mineral wealth.
This international campaign is
calling on the Kabila government and multinational mining partners to
revisit concessions that are not favorable to the DRC and to ensure that
new deals give a fair share to the Congolese people.
More information on the
coalition’s press release on Congo DR: A fair Share, visit
www.11.be/fairshare |
