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Dans le territoire administratif de Faradje, situé dans la province du Haut-Uélé, au nord-est de la République démocratique du Congo, plus de 5 000 personnes dépendent de l’exploitation artisanale de l’or pour subvenir à leurs besoins et à ceux de leur famille. De nombreuses familles de mineurs artisanaux le font depuis des générations. Elles travaillent actuellement sur des sites qui relèvent dés

Since 2020, West Africa has been experiencing political turmoil characterised by a series of coups d’état, which led to the emergence of two blocs: the coastal countries, which are still members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who founded the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023. Combining literature review with primary data collected

Depuis 2022, l’ouest de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) est en proie à une grave crise sécuritaire et humanitaire, qui a causé la mort de plus de 5 000 personnes et provoqué le déplacement prolongé de 280 000 autres. Alors que l’attention internationale se focalise principalement sur les conflits violents dans l’est du pays, un conflit intercommunautaire aux abords de Kinshasa s’enlise d

The European Union has developed a set of due diligence frameworks aimed at improving corporate accountability in mineral supply chains, particularly those linked to conflict-affected and high-risk areas. These regulations, such as the Conflict Minerals Regulation, the Battery Regulation, and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), seek to address both social and environmenta

New peace agreements from Washington and Doha have brought hope for initiating a pathway to resolve the ongoing M23-conflict in DRC’s eastern territories in recent months. However, after the signing of the Declaration of Principles in Doha on 19 July, direct negotiations between the DRC and AFC/M23 were intended to result in a comprehensive peace agreement and were planned to begin no later than 8

Women have historically contributed to mining activities across the world, yet their roles have often been overlooked or undervalued. Also in Tanzania’s artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector, women face systemic barriers rooted in cultural norms, legal frameworks, and socio-economic structures.   In this study, Thubutu Africa Initiatives (TAI) explores the cultural and social factors

Tanzania is a key source of coloured gemstones, including tsavorite, rubies, and sapphires. The sector, driven largely by artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), contributes to the national economy but women—who make up 25–30% of the workforce—are often confined to insecure, low-paying roles and see little of its benefits. This report, carried out by HakiMadini with methodological and editorial su

Tanzanite, a rare and valuable gemstone, holds significant economic potential for Tanzania. Yet, the country’s mining sector is marked by persistent socio-economic inequalities, particularly affecting women. In Mirerani – the only place on earth where tanzanite is found – women face systematic barriers to decent work, equipment, training and leadership positions. These challenges – compounded by e

The past year has left many of us witnessing a collapsing world order. In this rapidly evolving global landscape, marked by increasing geopolitical fragmentation, growing competition over critical minerals, and shifting alliances, IPIS has remained focused on its mission: provide governments and private sector actors with fact-based perspectives, support civil society across Sub Saharan Africa and

L’escalade du conflit dans l’est de la RDC a attiré l’attention des médias sur le coltan et son rôle dans la violence. Si la plupart des reportages se sont concentrés sur la production et le commerce (illégal) du coltan dans le Nord-Kivu, la contrebande est également très répandue dans le Sud-Kivu. Ce rapport examine les principales routes de contrebande, les facteurs qui y contribuent et les prat

Cash transfer programmes that provide financial support directly to households have been implemented in many countries as an alternative strategy to fight poverty and to strengthen social protection. In 2021, the Belgian non-profit organisation Eight launched a UCT programme in an artisanal mining zone in the province of Maniema, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. IPIS conducted a pilot and cont

New mediation efforts have been made throughout June to end the ongoing conflict between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and pro-government forces in the North and South Kivu regions of eastern Congo. On June 27th, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C., aimed at de-escalating tensions and fostering regional stability after years of conflict in easte

For over a decade, the Central African Republic (CAR) has been at the center of international efforts to curb the trade in conflict diamonds. In 2013, the Kimberley Process (KP) imposed a rough diamond export embargo following a violent coup and widespread reports of rebel financing through diamond mining and trade. While the embargo was partially eased between 2015 and 2019, further progress stal

Despite the ongoing peace negotiations between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and the Congolese government in Doha (Qatar), and the signature of a declaration of principles between Rwanda and the DRC, under the patronage of the United States in Washington, D.C. in April, the evolution of the conflict in eastern DRC has shown no sign of abating. 

La République démocratique du Congo (RDC) est un acteur important de l’industrie mondiale du diamant, avec un considérable potentiel encore inexploité. Ce rapport examine la situation actuelle du secteur de l’extraction diamantifère en RDC, notamment les tendances de la production, les principaux défis à relever, ainsi que les efforts déployés et les opportunités qui s’offrent pour relancer le sec

Greater West Africa is undergoing significant turmoil. In the past five years, more than half of the region’s countries have experienced a coup attempt (a growing threat across the continent) or are confronting armed secessionist movements. While some countries have made progress in confronting the growing threat of armed violence, other states’ abilities to govern have deteriorated. The ready sup

Au matin du 29 janvier, les rebelles contrôlaient en grande partie la ville stratégique de Goma. Pour expliquer rapidement et clairement les causes de cette crise humanitaire, on surestime souvent le rôle des ressources naturelles, en particulier des minerais. Si l’exploitation minière et le commerce des minerais jouent inévitablement un rôle important, car ils constituent un élément essentiel de

The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), adopted in June 2024, represents a significant effort to enforce corporate accountability for human rights and environmental impacts. However, the Directive’s application to the arms sector is limited due to exclusions in downstream activities such as the sale and use of arms. These exclusions potentially create gaps in accountabilit

The defence sector, characterized by complex and sensitive supply chains, faces growing international scrutiny to mitigate risks related to human rights violations, conflict financing, and environmental harm. While the sector faces a unique combination of challenges, the report assesses these challenges individually and demonstrates that valuable lessons can be drawn from other industries. It draw

The European Union’s ‘Conflict Minerals’ Regulation (CMR), which came into effect in January 2021, aims to prevent the trade in minerals that finance armed conflict and human rights abuses. However, both a formal evaluation by the European Commission and one conducted by civil society (IPIS/PAX, 2023), highlight significant shortcomings in the implementation and impact of the Conflict Minerals Reg