Briefings
Revisiting responsible sourcing: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of Congo
Thirteen years ago, in May 2011, IPIS participated in the very first meeting in Paris on implementing the newly adopted OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. At this relatively small gathering – organized by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the OECD and the UN Group of Experts on the Democrat
Why the DR Congo is putting Apple on the spot
End of April, several international media relayed accusations against Apple sourcing ‘conflict minerals’ from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The reality behind these allegations is however quite complex. The reasons for the Congolese government to speak out now, seem to go beyond concerns related to human rights violations along mineral supply chains. The allegatio
From the plains to the parks: an overview of the Burkina Faso – Benin border’s continued insurgency issue
On January 1 2024, insurgents linked to the al-Qaeda affiliated jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) clashed with state troops near Banikoara in north-western Benin, resulting in five casualties. The violence is part of a broader trend which has seen the border area between the Kompienga and Tapoa provinces of Burkina Faso’s Est region and t
A tale of two diamond certification schemes: the Kimberley Process and the G7’s Russian diamond ban
The diamond trade is today faced with arguably the biggest crisis since the blood diamond controversy of the late 1990s. Once again this has to do with widespread concern that proceeds from mining and trading this precious symbol of eternal love are being used to finance conflict. This time the source of controversy are Russian diamonds, which represent about one third of the global production, an
M23 crisis flares again in North Kivu: context, dynamics and risks
Past October, violence resurged in North Kivu province, as clashes intensified between the Movement of March 23 (M23) and various local militias, as well as the Congolese army (FARDC). An additional 200,000 people have been displaced last month, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in the province which already counted over 590,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to the M23 crisis
The EU Critical Raw Materials Act: Handshakes, extracting, processing and recycling. Why not reducing and prioritizing?
The European continent struggles with the dilemma to secure its raw material supply chain for the sake of its green transition and energy sovereignty, at the cost of more pollution, ecosystem destruction and handshakes with undemocratic resource-rich countries. The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRM Act) proposes a strategy to secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials, and is currently ne
Chinese dominance in Zimbabwe’s lithium mines: Potential risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities in the critical minerals sector
In the global race for energy transition minerals that are meant to help address the climate change crisis, Zimbabwe is one of the few African countries with important lithium reserves. If mining projects are managed transparently and with respect for property rights, human rights and openness to competitive investments, it can potentially lead to growth and development that has so far elude
Reimagining Western engagement: New strategies for stability in the Sahel are underway
On 29 September 2022, IPIS organised a panel discussion on the implications of the Ukraine invasion for Russia-Africa relations. The discussion touched upon shifting power balances, the role of Russian mercenaries and the impact of the war in Ukraine on the African and global diamond industry. Nowhere are these evolutions better reflected than in the Sahel, a region stretching from Seneg
Critical minerals and the need for equal partnerships with African producers
Before Western policymakers recognized the immense strategic importance of minerals for green energy production in the 21st century, it was primarily seen as the main source of conflicts in Africa, especially when they were extracted in the African Great Lakes Region.
Pourquoi le M23 n’est pas un groupe rebelle comme les autres
IPIS Briefing – Janvier 2023 This briefing is also available in English. L’année dernière, des changements majeurs sont intervenus dans la partie orientale de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), ravagée par des groupes armés depuis des décennies. Un groupe en particulier est passé au premier plan, le Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23). Les objectifs du M23 se situent à l’intersection des inté
Is the UN overstaying its welcome in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
What is happening? Since July 2022 the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has seen a series of protests against MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission deployed in the DRC. The protests took place in multiple cities in eastern DRC, which has recently seen an increase in armed group activity. The protestors voiced their anger towards the UN for being unable to protect civilians against the violence of
Urban mining and e-waste exports: overview and recent initiatives
As economies are increasingly looking into alternatives to virgin mining of natural resources to secure their supply of critical raw materials, recycling and the aim of a circular economy are high on the political agenda. A case in point is the recent announcement of an EU Critical Raw Materials Act envisioning, among others, the enhanced recovery of rare earth elements from waste streams. At the
Eaux troubles au Kasaï. Pollution par l’industrie diamantaire angolaise et négligence coupable du gouvernement congolais
IPIS Briefing – Août 2022 Ce briefing est également disponible en anglais. Environ un an après que la nouvelle soit parvenue à la presse mondiale, on n’entend presque plus parler de la catastrophe environnementale causée par la mine de diamants angolaise Catoca. Pour rappel, fin juillet 2021, les médias locaux ont fait état pour la première fois de la décoloration rouge brunâtre de l’eau sur des c
A fault confessed is half redressed: Glencore pleads guilty
IPIS Briefing – June 2022 On the 24th May 2022, the Justice Department of the United States announced that Glencore pleaded guilty for foreign briberies and Market Manipulation Schemes in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and had accepted a USD 1.1 billion settlement. The same day, Glencore Energy UK Limited also made public that it would plead guilty in the invest
IPIS Briefing December 2021 – January 2022: Grievances, Governance and Gold in the eastern DRC
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: Grievances, Governance and Gold in the eastern DRC. In the news: DRC: 51 people sentenced to death over 2017 murder of two UN ex
IPIS Briefing October – November 2021 – Are we ready for a just transition to a sustainable low-carbon world?
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: Are we ready for a just transition to a sustainable low-carbon world? In the news: Congo Hold-up Dossier; Cobalt-rich Congo trie
IPIS Briefing September 2021 – Some thoughts on diamonds, brides and marketing lies
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: Some Thoughts on Diamonds, Brides and Marketing Lies. In the news: U.N. Footage From Northern Ethiopia Shows Humanitarian Crisis
IPIS Briefing August 2021 – Cameroon’s diamond sector: small player, big challenges
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: Cameroon’s diamond sector: small player, big challenges. In the news: Conflict diamonds may be virtually extinct in 2021, but yo
IPIS Briefing June/July 2021 – War on Terror in Eastern Congo? The fear of international observers
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: War on Terror in Eastern Congo? The fear of international observers. In the news: Tensions rise over definition of conflict diam
IPIS Briefing May 2021 – Reducing the carbon footprint at the expense of a mineral footprint?
The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade. Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS’ areas of research. In focus: Reducing the carbon footprint at the expense of a mineral footprint? In the news: Ethiopia Tigray crisis – Warnings of genocide
RECHERCHER BRIEFINGS
