Illegal mineral exploitation in eastern DRC is one of the main drivers of the current crisis, denounces the UN

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, during the presentation of his report to the UN Human Rights Council, denounced the hoarding of resources from the illegal exploitation and illicit trade in natural resources in the DRC, with the complicity of companies inside and outside the country, as well as the proliferation and trafficking of arms, which are the main drivers of the current violence.

Volker Türk showed that this situation is at the root of the poverty in which the population finds itself, while recalling that “the DRC is one of the five poorest nations in the world”. Approximately one in six people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa lives in the DRC. “This situation is unacceptable,” he said.

The UN human rights chief called for the responsibility of the country’s authorities, as well as regional and international actors to examine human rights issues. Because it is inconceivable that the DRC, which is endowed with exceptional natural resources, including minerals such as cobalt, coltan, gold and copper, significant hydroelectric potential, vast arable land, immense biodiversity and the second largest tropical forest in the world, is among the poorest countries on the planet.

In this context, he was keen to highlight the work of the group of experts set up by the UN Secretary-General on critical minerals for the energy transition. “It would be very important to study and use the recommendations made in their final report.”

The DRC has been plunged into armed conflict for more than decades. In the east of the country, the number of victims of human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law continues to increase.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC thus encouraged Kinshasa to continue its commitment to the adoption of a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights for the full realization of the right to development and economic, social and cultural rights.

Finally, the High Commissioner for Human Rights returned to the conditions of detention that have hit the headlines in recent weeks. “In detention centres run by the intelligence services in particular, a number of detainees are subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence.”