U.N. Secretary-General Calls DRC to Tighten Mining Oversight

The U.N. Security Council has renewed its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo for two more months as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the country to enhance security and tighten mining industry oversight because it funds armed conflict.

The U.N. Mission in DR Congo (MONUC) said the reason for extending the mission for only two months was to give the secretary-general time to report following his recent visit to the DRC. Ban is expected to report by March 15.

Proclaiming the country poses, “a threat to international peace and security in the region,” the council approved the extension on the day the old mandate was to expire.

In his latest report on the DRC issued Thursday, Ban called on Congo authorities to focus on security sector reform and to tighten up legislation covering business practices in diamond and other mining. He proposed the country explore alternative measures to “reducing the influence of economic operators that use proceeds from natural-resource exploitation to buy and import weapons.”

Ban also recommended the Congolese government promote a business climate that discourages extortion, fraud and other illegal practices to strengthen the authorities' ability to raise public funds. To that end, he proposes the drafting of a code of conduct specifically designed for the private sector in the country.

He went as far as to suggest the possibility of imposing sanctions on the country as a way of cleaning up the mining industry, while expressing uncertainty of whether sanctions would work against such practices.

“The general effect (of sanctions) will be to diminish only marginally the general practices they are designed to curtail,” Ban said. “In most of the eastern DRC they will do little to reduce the use of force in extracting minerals, diminish fraud, and encourage responsible corporate behavior.”

Ban urged the government to ensure that investors in the natural resource sector adhere to regulations.

“The question remains: what is likely to bring more order to the production and marketing of the DRC's natural resources in a way that will allow greater security for the (artisan) miners, less exposure to extortion by armed groups and the assurance of more revenues for the state and its public services?” he asked.