DRC: Denis Mukwege pleads for the demilitarization of mining sites
The Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Denis Mukwege, has pleaded for the demilitarization of mining sites at the base of the conflicts in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He spoke during the first meeting of the European Parliament’s human rights sub-committee.
This plea which falls within the framework of its efforts in favor of justice for the crimes committed in this part of the country.
”These conflict minerals will become clean minerals if the sites where they are mined are no longer under the control of armed men. it is for this reason we believe that peace cannot be bought without justice. if the executioners remain in the army, the police and the administration , will certainly continue to hinder the efforts of the justice system f they continue to operate in the mining squares . they have all the ways to export these minerals without any control and after having committed such crimes,” he said.
He also pleaded for the minerals to benefit the Congolese people.
“I think these two mechanisms can go together. Therefore, the efforts of the law which was passed by the European Parliament and also the efforts of justice to allow that there is peace and that the population can enjoy their work and not continue to work like slaves in mining areas, ”added Dr Mukwege.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner returned to the recommendations of the mapping report. He also returned to the fight against impunity, the promotion of transitional justice and the human rights situation in general in the DRC.
A report by the Security Barometer in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, a project jointly managed by Human Rights Watch and the New York-based Congo Study Group published in August 2019, stated that several officers of the The Congolese army deployed in mining areas in the east of the country reap “significant income” and refuse to enter military camps.
