Mining in the Congo River Basin

How gold and diamonds cause conflict and pain

Gold, diamonds and other precious minerals are renowned for their financial value and the passions they inspire. But in the heart of the Congo River Basin, these resources are igniting and fuelling conflict, causing human rights abuses and, in places, decimating forests.

In several countries of the Congo River Basin, mining is an important economic activity. For example, some of the world's biggest gold deposits are located in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Mongbwalu area. And for years, competition to reap the area’s riches has helped fuel armed conflict, including a 1998-2003 war that resulted in up to 4 million deaths.¹

Another source of funding for military groups is diamonds. They are easy to smuggle; they have a relatively constant and internationally recognised price; and have a higher value-to-weight ratio than almost any other natural resource in the DRC.²


What are the impacts of mining?

• Wildlife poaching (e.g. bushmeat), which can be quite widespread in the area surrounding the mining site.
  
• Lack of good practices, such as negligible compensation for local people and often appalling working conditions.
• Ecological damage, such as in the case of diamond mining. When waterways are deviated from their original beds, this causes excess sedimentation and pollution, water sources are contaminated, soil is eroded, and vegetation cover is destroyed.

Some protected areas have suffered from being located either in proximity to, or worse, above the mineral deposits. Such is the case of the Maiko National Park (MNP).

Since 1970, when it was established, financial and technical support for the management of the park has been insufficient. Armed militia took refuge in Maiko during a local war, exploiting not only its fauna but also its mineral resources.³

Financial gains from selling the minerals are still used to pay members of the militias and to obtain weapons.

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¹ McLaughlin A. Aug 2005. Digging for 'tainted gold' in Congo. Christian Science Monitor.
² Global Witness. 2004. Same Old Story: A background study on natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Report
³ WCS. WCS Rehabilitation Program of Maiko National Park. Accessed 14/11/05