Footnotes to the Mining Story1

[email protected] This article has earlier been published in ‘Review of African Political Economy’.

Abstract

Do mining companies produce wars to get easy access to a country's mineral resources? The article argues against conspiracy theories and a purely moral approach to this question. The problem cannot be analyzed without taking into account the evolutions in the international mining sector and their effects on the ground. On the African continent, mining companies tend to get involved in conflict-ridden areas as the least preferable option, to be taken when no valuable alternatives are available. The challenge is not so much to prevent economic actors to be involved, but to reorient this involvement towards productive purposes and taking into account the locally existing networks of exploitation and trade. This is the only efficient starting point for giving the local producers a productive benefit of the mining exploitation.

Keywords:

• DRCongo
• mining
• conflict areas
• illegal exploitation of natural resources

Notes

[email protected] This article has earlier been published in ‘Review of African Political Economy’.

Gauthier de VILLERS (avec Jean Omasombo et Erik Kennes), Guerre et politique. Les trente derniers mois de L.D. Kabila (Aoút 1998–Janvier 2001), Cahiers Africains No 47–48, Institut Africain/L'Harmattan, Tervuren, Paris, 2001, pp. 18–21. This is not to say there was no internal dissent or discontent, but the popular support for the second ‘rebellion’ was very limited and dwindled away as the war continued.

See Le nouvel ordre politique et les enjeux économiques du conflit en République Démocratique du Congo, Rapport du groupe d'expertise congolaise de Belgique, Tervuren, 64 pp.

I am fully aware that chiefs are part of the problem in the Kivu region because of their policy of land distribution, but one can only try and find workable solutions. In the present situation there are no optimal or even good solutions. I am grateful to Mr. Mwando Nsimba for inspiration with these proposals.