Diamants, conflits et criminalité en République centrafricaine : la levée du dernier embargo du Processus de Kimberley
18 juin 2025For 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
After the tailings dam collapse: Community perspectives on compensation and restoration at the Williamson diamond mine, Tanzania
6 mai 2025In November 2022, a major accident occurred at the Williamson diamond mine in Tanzania’s Shinyanga region, when approximately 150 meters of the eastern wall of the mine’s tailings storage facility (TSF) collapsed. This released a large volume of tailings slurry that spread northeast, covering an estimated 5.4 km² in a single day and severely impacting land and water resources in and around the min
Les diamants en RDC : Un secteur qui peine à briller à nouveau
28 avril 2025La 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
Mineral extraction, environmental harm, and conflict: The role of EU due diligence in promoting sustainable practices in conflict hotspots
16 avril 2025In many conflict-prone regions, mining activities often contribute to both environmental degradation and the intensification of local conflicts. These issues are exacerbated by weak governance structures, poor enforcement of regulations, corruption and limited accountability for extractive industries. Environmental harm, such as temporary tree cover loss and long-term deforestation, water pollutio
KUFUATILIA expands to Tanzania: Strengthening civil society monitoring and community support in the mining sector
2 avril 2025In March 2025, IPIS successfully launched KUFUATILIA, its civil society organization (CSO) incident monitoring scheme for the mining sector, in Tanzania’s Mara region. KUFUATILIA is a community-based incident reporting system designed to facilitate real-time, structured reporting by community members through mobile phones.
The rising spotlight on coltan: Understanding its strategic importance and role in the Eastern Congo conflict
25 mars 2025In the past two decades, there has probably been no time when coltan has been discussed as much as it is today. Initially brought to global attention in the early 2000s, coltan was wrongly portrayed as the main cause of the conflict in Eastern Congo and was subsequently labelled as a « conflict mineral. » However, following the capture of Goma by the M23 rebel group in January 2025, supported by the
Balancing prosperity and rights: Advancing Tanzania’s Business and Human Rights agenda in extractives
30 janvier 2025DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – JANUARY 2025 In today’s global business environment, corporate responsibility towards host community welfare, particularly safeguarding and respecting human rights, has become a pivotal concern. The issue reached a watershed moment in 2011 with the development of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These principles rest on a th
Le Processus de Kimberley lève l’embargo sur les diamants de conflit en République centrafricaine – Questions/réponses
10 décembre 2024Lors de sa réunion plénière de 2024 à Dubaï, le processus de Kimberley (PK) a décidé de lever l’embargo sur les exportations de diamants bruts en provenance de la République centrafricaine (RCA), en place depuis 11 ans. Quels ont été les facteurs à l’origine de cette décision et quelles en sont les implications ?Dans ces questions-réponses, IPIS se penche sur les origines de l’embargo, son impact
Revisiting responsible sourcing: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of Congo
16 septembre 2024Thirteen 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
Voices from Tanzania – Social and economic impacts of land acquisition by Barrick North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania: A case study of Komarera, Kewanja and Mjini Kati villages in Tarime District
19 juin 2024In Tanzania, the need for land has increased dramatically in recent years, to accommodate different types of investment that push for the country’s industrialization, economic growth and development. Despite the existence of well-established procedures and legal provisions, challenges persist within Tanzania regarding land acquisition […]
Voices from Tanzania – The social-economic impact of land acquisition practices related to Bulyanhulu Gold Mine on communities in Msalala district council, Shinyanga region
17 juin 2024This publication is part of IPIS’ Voices from Tanzania series and its edition on “The impact of land acquisition practices in the extractive sectors of northern Tanzania”. In their Voices from Tanzania study Rafiki SDO assesses the socio-economic impacts of land acquisition practices by the Bulyanhulu gold mine on 2 villages in Msalala district council, Shinyanga region. Download the report (EN) P
Why the DR Congo is putting Apple on the spot
15 mai 2024End 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
Unearthing equality: Women’s empowerment in Tanzania’s extractive sector
18 avril 2024DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – APRIL 2024 While driving economic growth and contributing to welfare, the benefits of Tanzania’s extractive sector have not been equitably distributed among all segments of society, with women being notably disadvantaged. In this briefing, IPIS and its partners look at the realities of women’s participation in both small and large-scale mining. The briefing iden
Exploitation minière et conflit dans l’est de la RDC: Une carte narrative interactive
11 mars 2024Financement des conflits, ingérence armée et sources d’insécurité au-delà du paradigme des « minerais de conflit » Dans cette carte narrative, IPIS présente les résultats de ses recherches sur le lien entre l’exploitation minière et le financement des conflits dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Basée sur une enquête menée entre 2021-2023 dans 829 sites miniers actifs (représe
IPIS Event: Congolese cobalt, EU regulations, and direct investment
9 janvier 2024On the 30th of November, IPIS hosted its annual panel discussion, this time on current challenges facing the cobalt sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the potential impact of European Union (EU) regulations to improve these. Moderated by Lotte Hoex, the panel consisted of Esperant Mwishamali, independent researcher on cobalt artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in the DRC,
Analyse de la carte interactive des zones d’exploitation minière artisanale dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (Mise à jour 2023)
22 décembre 2023Depuis 2009, IPIS a cartographié et collecté des données sur plus de 2 800 sites d’exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). Dans ce rapport, IPIS fournit sa mise à jour 2023 de l’état de l’EMAPE dans l’est de la RDC, basée sur des données provenant de plus de 829 sites artisanaux et de petite échelle dans la zone entre 202
Access to remedy and extractive industries: The challenges of legal aid providers in Tanzania
20 décembre 2023DARUBINI – Tanzania Briefing – December 2023 Tanzania’s rich mineral reserves and thriving extractive industries provide a promise of economic prosperity and development. However, when these industries cause harm to both surrounding communities and environments, access to remedy often remains difficult. In this briefing, IPIS and its partners address challenges facing Legal Aid Providers (LA
Increasing awareness of policy reforms on gender equality issues in artisanal and small-scale mining in eastern DRC: Case study of the Numbi, Nzibira and Nyabibwe sites
13 décembre 2023The mineral resources of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) provide an important source of employment for both men and women involved in artisanal and small-scaling mining (ASM). Yet opportunities are not equal for men and women. Based on a series of interviews with various ASM stakeholders at the mines of Numbi, Nzibira and Nybibwe in the province of South Kivu, this
Cartographie des sites minieres artisanaux dans la région du Mambasa occidental, province de l’Ituri, République démocratique du Congo
22 novembre 2023La partie occidentale du territoire de Mambasa, dans la province de l’Ituri, fait l’objet d’une attention limitée de la part des autorités nationales et des partenaires internationaux. Pourtant, l’expansion des activités d’exploitation artisanale et à petite échelle de l’or (ASM) y est importante, y compris dans la Réserve de Faune à Okapis (RFO). Ces opérations minières ont provoqué des tensions
Petra Diamonds’ attempts to come clean with its tarnished past in Tanzania
9 novembre 2023Challenges in securing access to remedy and restoring community relations after serious human rights abuse at the Williamson diamond mine This report assesses the efforts by Petra Diamonds to restore community relations and remediate the legacy of serious human rights abuse at its Williamson diamond mine in Tanzania. Download the report The Williamson Diamonds mine, adjacent villages a
