APLC Calls for Regional Treaty to Combat Illicit Mineral Exploitation in DRC
The Agency of the Presidency of the Republic in charge of the Prevention and Fight against Corruption (APLC) has called on its East African counterparts to collaborate on developing a regional treaty for recovering assets from illicit financial flows related to the fraudulent exploitation of mineral resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This appeal, issued by the APLC communications unit on May 29, 2024, follows the Regional Conference of the East Africa Anti-Corruption Platform.
The conference, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in collaboration with the Kenyan Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, brought together experts from various organizations including the Ministry of Justice, the APLC, the National Financial Intelligence Unit (CENAREF), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMP).
Francis Lusakweno, interim deputy coordinator in charge of investigations and legal case monitoring at the APLC, led the Congolese delegation.
He recommended establishing robust information-sharing mechanisms within the region to combat fraud effectively. Lusakweno highlighted that the prolonged conflicts in the DRC over the past two decades have facilitated the illicit trade and exploitation of “blood minerals.”
To counteract this issue, he stressed the importance of detecting, identifying, and documenting illegal exploitation activities and sharing this information with international stakeholders.
Lusakweno also expressed gratitude to Tanzania for its support in this endeavor, noting that Tanzania has already assisted the DRC in recovering several tons of minerals illegally extracted from Congolese soil.
