DRC: US provides $ 5 million in aid to fight child labor in mines.
Deputy Minister of Mines Godard Motemona spoke with Mike Hammer, the Ambassador of the United States of America in the DRC on issues related to the fight against child labor in mines and the security situation around artisanal mining sites .
US diplomat Mike Hammer announced aid valued at USD 5 million from the United States, through his labor department, to the DRC to combat child labor in mines and secure this sector. He also mentioned the support of the United States in good governance, with a view to eradicating the Fraud and corruption which plague the mining sector.
American firms cannot invest in the Congolese mining sector as long as there is corruption, Mike Hammer also said.
“The United States is a privileged partner of the DRC in promoting peace and prosperity. Today, I came with two letters from our Department of Labor to announce that we will continue to support the efforts of the government of the DRC to improve the situation in the mining sector especially for the issues of children working in the mining sector. $ 5 million clauses are given to eliminate child labor in mines. This is done in cooperation with the ministry of Mines. We discussed our collaboration to promote good governance and transparency in the mining sector. We have a lot of hope that we will develop a very strong mining sector in the DRC. The reality is that the American companies cannot come and invest in the DRCthere is corruption. We very much appreciated the speech of the Deputy Minister of Mines “, he said.
It should be noted that Mike Hammer was accompanied by the head of USAID who, for his part, mentioned the need for the Congolese Government to ensure for a responsible mineral trade, transparency starting from the extraction of mineral substances from the extraction for commercialization, including the concern to ensure the development of local communities on the part of mining operators within the framework of their societal responsibilities towards local communities.
In addition, questions were raised relating to the validation by the Ministry of Mines of more than 200 mining sites, an approach which will allow the representatives of the mining administration to be placed there, while reducing disorder and insecurity. in these uncontrolled areas due to the absence of the state. “We very much appreciated the speech of the Deputy Minister of Mines,” he said.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Godard Motemona pledged all his support to the United States of America, a major partner of the DRC, so that the vision of the Head of State Félix Tshisekedi becomes concrete, that of eradicate all the anti-values that eat away at this sector.
