Germany Urges Responsible Mining to Promote Peace and Development in the DRC
Angelika Friedrich, representative of the German Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has called for responsible and transparent mining practices in the country.
Her remarks were made on Thursday, April 17, in Kinshasa at the closing of the National Dialogue on Mining Governance in the Context of Conflicts in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region.
“The DRC’s mineral resources are undeniably a great treasure that should be used to drive provincial and national development,” Friedrich said.
She commended the initiative led by civil society to propose effective governance mechanisms for the mining sector. The goal, she noted, is to help end the war in eastern DRC by addressing the role that mineral resources play in fueling conflict.
“This dialogue strengthens both technical and political cooperation between our governments, while shedding light on the challenges faced by mining sector actors in the context of ongoing conflict,” she added.
At the opening session earlier in the week, German Ambassador Ingo Herbert expressed solidarity with the Congolese people in light of the violence in the east, where the Rwandan army and M23 rebels have been accused of committing atrocities.
“In these difficult times, the Federal Republic of Germany stands with the Congolese people to demonstrate its support. It is clear that the DRC’s mineral wealth is a central factor in the region’s security challenges,” said Ambassador Herbert.
He urged the DRC government to implement systems for ensuring the traceability of mining products and preventing human rights abuses in artisanal mining zones.
He emphasized the importance of adhering to both national laws and international standards in the mining sector.
