News
Sharing the results of two years of research into eastern DR Congo’s artisanal mining sector
July 12, 2023Since 2021 and in partnership with USAID and the Congolese Ministry of Mines (through its technical service SAEMAPE), IPIS has been undertaking a large-scale project to map and analyse artisanal mining supply chains and conflict financing dynamics in eastern DRC. A restitution meeting was held in Goma (North Kivu) on June 21st, 2023 to present and discuss the results produced over the past two yea
EVENT – June 21st: Empowering African artisanal diamond mining communities for a more responsible supply chain
May 23, 2023IPIS and Diamonds for Peace invite you to a panel discussion on Wednesday 21st June 2023 in Antwerp. Panelists will share their experiences of working with artisanal diamond mining communities and views on how to include artisanal miners for a more responsible diamond supply chain. Speakers will then answer questions from the audience. Date: Wednesday 21st June 2023
My GIS internship at IPIS – A goodbye from our latest intern Philip Knirsch
March 20, 2023During the second half of 2022, I had the chance to complete a GIS internship at IPIS in Antwerp. As a student pursuing a degree in both African Studies and Geography, I was eager to apply my existing knowledge from both fields and gather valuable insights and experience. The main tasks of the GIS and data analysis team, and thus of my internship, included supporting other researchers in col
Kufatilia is now active in the cobalt-producing province of Lualaba, in the Democratic Republic of Congo
March 15, 2023After a successful implementation in the 3TG-producing provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Haut-Uele, IPIS is expanding its incident reporting and monitoring system Kufatilia to the cobalt-rich province of Lualaba.
Feedback session: Sharing the results of the data collected in Walungu, South Kivu
November 18, 2022Since 2021, IPIS undertakes another large-scale mapping effort of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), – in partnership with USAID and the Congolese Ministry of Mines (through its technical service SAEMAPE). The project aims to provide observers, supply chain actors and policymakers with reliable data to understand artisanal mineral
Joint statement on conflict & due diligence legislation
October 14, 2022The forthcoming EU due diligence Directive is lacking in its provisions for companies that are active in conflict affected areas and should be amended to align better with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Together with 50+ signatories, IPIS calls for a heightened, conflict-sensitive due diligence process for high-risk areas that includes compliance with international humanit
IPIS event on Russia’s geopolitical and mining interests in Africa after the Ukraine invasion. Main takeaways
October 6, 2022On September 29th 2022 IPIS organised a panel discussion with Nina Wilén, the director of the Africa Programme of the Egmont Institute, and IPIS researcher Hans Merket. Key topics were the implications of the Ukraine invasion for Russia-Africa relations. The discussion, moderated by Filip Reyniers, touched upon shifting power balances, the role of Russian mercenaries in Africa and the impact of th
Viktor Bout documents released under Mandatory Declassification Review by the Clinton Library
September 26, 2022In 2015 IPIS vzw asked for a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) of selected documents in relation to Viktor Bout, produced by the Clinton administration between 1999 and 2001, and held in the Clinton Library. MDR “is a means by which any individual or entity can request any Federal agency to review classified information for declassification, regardless of its age or origin, subject to certai
New 5-year project aiming to empower communities and civil society to foster justice and human rights in Tanzania’s natural resource sector
September 16, 2022In 2022, IPIS launched new work on the human rights impact of the natural resource sector in Tanzania. Our new five-year project “Empowering Tanzanian communities and civil society to foster justice & human rights in natural resource governance” builds on the expertise IPIS has been developing on northern Tanzania’s small- and large-scale mining sector as well as the implementation and monitor
IPIS EVENT – 29 September 2022 – Russia’s geopolitical and mining interests in Africa: implications of the Ukraine invasion
August 8, 2022IPIS invites you to a panel discussion on Russia’s geopolitical and mining interests in Africa and the implications of the Ukraine invasion. Date: September 29th. Time: 4 – 6 PM Location: Atelier 29, BRUSSELS
Feedback session: Sharing the results of the data collected in Shabunda
May 19, 2022Since 2021, IPIS undertakes another large-scale mapping effort of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), – in partnership with USAID and the Congolese Ministry of Mines (through its technical service SAEMAPE). The project aims to provide observers, supply chain actors and policymakers with reliable data to understand artisanal mineral
Press release: Universal basic income project expands to more regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo
May 12, 2022Eight’s basic income project, in collaboration with IPIS, the Belgian Development Cooperation, Fairphone, announces the expansion of its basic income pilot project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Timeline of the conflict in Tigray
April 28, 2022In February of 2022, Peter Danssaert created a detailed timeline of the conflict in Tigray dating from 1991 to 2022. The timeline was used by participants of a webinar on the Tigray conflict organised by Union Chapel. The webinar took place on April 28th, 2022 but can still be viewed online. October 20, 2022 there will be a new event by Union Chapel on the current situation in Tigray. You can regi
Op-ed: Belgium’s inaction on diamond trade with Russia is not justifiable
April 26, 2022This op-ed was published in Dutch in De Standaard on April 12, 2022 — Hans Merket The Antwerp diamond hub presents itself as the most ethical in the world. This does not sit well with turning a blind eye on the war in Ukraine. There are no arguments left to justify doing nothing about the flow of income that the Russian regime receives from the diamond trade with Belgium. Both the Antwerp diamond
A goodbye from our latest student assistants in the GIS and data Team
April 7, 2022At the end of 2021, as part of a university course on peace research, I started diving into the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its current production of minerals. During this research I came across IPIS and its Open Data Dashboard, which impressed me a lot. When I saw that there was a student job opportunity for the GIS and data analysis team, I applied; and beginning of 202
KP CSC Highlights of 2021
January 12, 2022At the start of this new year the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition looks back on the previous one with these highlights from 2021
“The Blue Mine” as a new status for qualifying mine sites in DRC. The result of successful advocacy by the Madini Project
November 23, 2021On November 12th 2021, the National Minister of Mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Madam Antoinette N’Samba Kalambayi, signed the ministerial decree instituting a new status for the qualification /validation for artisanal mining sites: the Blue Status. Mine site qualification and validation (in line with the ICGLR’s Regional Certification Mechanism ) is a mandatory process in the DRC
New large-scale mapping project of artisanal and small-scale mining in eastern DRC launched
November 10, 2021Over the next two years, IPIS – in partnership with USAID, Tetra Tech and the Congolese Ministry of Mines (SAEMAPE) – will undertake a large-scale mapping effort of artisanal and small-scale mining sites in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the aim to provide observers, suppliers and policymakers with reliable data to understand artisanal mineral supply chains and conflict finan
WEBINAR ALERT: Conflict diamonds are real, real talk is rare & affected communities want answers
October 8, 2021On 20 October 2021, the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KP CSC) is convening its second webinar of 2021 in the conversation on “Conflict diamonds are real, real talk is rare”. IPIS, as part of the KP CSC, is co-hosting this 90-minute webinar. The webinar is an opportunity for the diamond and jewellery industries to continue engaging with the Coalition directly and learn more about what
ONLINE EVENT: The European Regulation on Responsible Mineral Sourcing: what are the lessons learned so far?
September 14, 2021The main takeaways from the workshop and the conference have been summarized in a report that can be downloaded here. From 21 to 28 September 2021, the European Network for Central Africa (EurAc), Germanwatch, IPIS, Justice & Paix, the MADINI project, Ecumenical Network for Central Africa (ÖNZ) will host an online conference bringing together local and European civil society representatives, E