Conflict Minerals: The Real Deal
Conflict Minerals is quickly becoming a euphemism that purports to explain the nature of the conflict and the challenges facing the Congo. However well-meaning, this reductionist approach to the Congo will ultimately do more to prolong the conflict, perpetuate dependency and entrench the impoverishment of the Congo for generations to come.
Over a series of blogs we will demystify the Conflict Mineral approach and provide concrete alternatives for an approach that is in all intents and purposes an expression of United States government soft power in an attempt to continue its control and domination of Congo, which began in its role in the assassination of Congo’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba (assassinated on January 17, 1961) and the subsequent installation and maintenance of the dictator Joseph Mobutu for over three decades.
Conflict Minerals: Ask the Africans
I’m with a French association that addresses itself specifically to the consequences of the conflict in the Eastern Congo for women. I find a lot of very interesting material and analysis of the situation in English and very little in French. Since the Congolese are French speakers, you should make sure that the materials you publish be accessible to French-speaking Congolese (as well as French speakers world wide). I’ve been translating the most critical pieces for our association, but more effort is needed on your behalf.
Thank you so much for this blog! The information is fantastic, and really helps illuminate why merely regulating and auditing where minerals are mined will not end the conflict in the Congo nor bring resource sovereignty. Please make more “ask the african” videos!
One suggestion though is to clearly explain what the conflict mineral approach is at the beginning so people understand what theory you are talking about!