ISS SEMINAR: THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: `THE CURSE OF GOLD` tuesday, 7 June 2005

Date: 2005-06-07 to Invalid date

ISS SEMINAR:
THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: `THE CURSE OF GOLD`
tuesday, 7 June 2005

AFRICAN SECURITY ANALYSIS PROGRAMME

 

Map to ISS Offices >>>

In conjunction with Human Rights Watch, the Institute for Security Studies is pleased to host a seminar that will present the findings of a Human Rights Watch Report on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was released 2 June 2005 (view the report online or click here to download the PDF version - 4.68MB).

The northeast corner of the DRC is home to one of Africa’s richest goldfields. This report documents widespread human rights abuses linked to ruthless efforts by foreign armies and armed groups to control two key gold mining areas: Mongbwalu and Durba. In their battles for gold, armed groups carried out widespread ethnic slaughter, torture and rape leaving more than 60,000 civilians dead in this remote corner of the DRC. Armed group leaders together with their local business allies used the proceeds from the sale of gold to gain access to money, guns, and power. Multinational mining companies also sought to start gold mining and exploration activities in this volatile area.

 

The Human Rights Watch report provides details of how a leading gold mining company, AngloGold Ashanti, part of the international mining conglomerate Anglo American, developed links with one murderous armed group, the Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI), helping them to access the gold-rich mining site around the town of Mongbwalu in the northeastern Ituri district. The Human Rights Watch report also illustrates the trail of tainted gold from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to neighbouring Uganda from where it is sent to global gold markets in Europe and elsewhere. There will be no peace in Congo unless those who are involved in the exploitation of its natural resources make respect for human rights a fundamental consideration in their business activities. Congolese citizens deserve to benefit from the country’s rich resources, not be cursed by them.

 

Speakers at the seminar include:

 

Anneke Van Woudenberg , HRW Senior Researcher (DRC); Henri Boshoff, ISS Military Analyst, Jean Marie Gasana, ISS Senior Researcher and Stephanie Wolters, Freelance Journalist and Political Analyst

 

Venue ISS Conference Room

Block C, Brooklyn Court

361 Veale Street

New Muckleneuk

(Parking in Brooklyn Mall and ABSA court)

Time 10h00 (tea and coffee)

10h30 (seminar starts)

12h30 (seminar ends)

RSVP Charlene Harry-Chukwu

Fax (012) 346 9500

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Please note that discussions occur under Chatham House rules, i.e. no attribution without specific permission.