Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Logo
BlogNewsPublications
Focus
Fix Mining LawsPut People and Ecosystems FirstControl the CorporationsProtect Water

About

Contact

Donate

Back to top

Displaying 1 - 7 of 7

EnglishEspañolFrançais
Category

Tenke

News Release

Publication of Congo mining contract review welcome; renegotiations should be fair and transparent

25.03.2008
News Release

NGOs fear that Congolese mining contract review process has been hijacked: Time for authorities in Europe, North America to act

04.02.2008
Friends of MiningWatch

OECD Governments Fail to Investigate Corporate Role in Congo War

17.03.2004
Blog

United Nations Whitewashes Canadian Mining Companies Operating in Democratic Republic of Congo

27.12.2003

On October 24 last year, the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and other Forms of Wealth in the Congo, a UN panel struck to research this issue, submitted its report to the United Nations.

The five-member panel said that the different strategies for the illegal exploitation of resources in the Congo had set up a predatory network of the elite — including the army and government leaders — and lead to "an economy of war" in the region. The consequences of that war, it said were "catastrophic", leading to "mineral rape", manipulated ethnic tensions and thousands of dead, and complete impunity for human rights violations.

The panel called on the United Nations to impose financial restrictions on 29 companies and 54 individuals involved in the pillaging. It also named 85 multinational mining firms accusing them of ignoring OECD guidelines on ethics.

Egyptian Mahmoud Kassem, chairman of the Panel, told a news conference: "The role of these companies is really important. Corporations have a direct and indirect role. Without them, this kind of commerce would not be possible."

Congolese resources include gold, diamonds, cobalt, copper, coltan, and niobium.

Eight Canadian companies were on the list of those that had violated OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. They are: American Mineral Fields, Banro, First Quantum, Hrambee Mining, International Panorama Resources, Kinross Gold, Melkior Resources and Tenke. Most of these have been involved in exploration only. The Panel insists that they have concrete evidence of violations. The companies vehemently deny the charges.

In Canada, the Montréal-based Table de Concertation sur Les Droits Humains du Congo/Kinshasa has been leading a coalition to ensure that Canada deal seriously with these charges. The coalition has made a formal complaint under the OECD guidelines to the Canadian government and has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We also want to see environmental and human rights screens as part of the new Africa Investment Fund.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, "I hope that we can find some way of dealing with the Congo, either through a direct ban or governments taking responsibility for companies that are registered in their countries to ensure that they did not behave irresponsibly." In Belgium, the government will be conducting a formal inquiry into the allegations about the Belgian companies on the list. Canada should do no less.

See also Congo: The Western Heart of Darkness by Asad Ismi, in the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Monitor, October 2001, also published in Briarpatch, November, 2001.

Categories: 
American Mineral Fields/AdastraBanroFirst Quantum MineralsKatangaKinrossTenkeCongo - Democratic RepublicCorporate Accountability
Guest Publication

Profiles of Some Canadian Mining Companies Operating in Africa

24.05.2001
Guest Publication

Towards a Spiral of Violence? The Dangers of Privatisation of Risk Management of Investments in Africa: Mining Activities and the Use of Private Security Companies

06.03.2000

Protect Water

Mining can have serious effects on surface and subsurface water

(459)

Control the Corporations

Canadian mining companies operate around the world without regulations

(1395)

Fix Mining Laws

Many Canadian mining laws are out of step with current values and expectations

(531)

Put People and Ecosystems First

Sound environmental planning may or may not allow mining.

(493)

Changing public policy and mining practices to ensure the health of individuals, communities and ecosystems.

Donate Now!
Stay in Touch

Get MiningWatch updates and newsletters

Subscribe
MiningWatch Canada
4 Florence Street, Suite 210
Ottawa, ON
K2P 0W7
 Canada
Please call ahead if visiting in person.
[email protected]
Phone+1 (613) 569-3439
Contact form

Site design Strategy Otter