{"id":20848,"date":"2021-02-09T15:51:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T14:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/\/?post_type=weekly-briefing&p=20848"},"modified":"2021-02-09T16:08:50","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T15:08:50","slug":"ipis-briefing-january-2021-armed-groups-challenging-opportunities-for-responsible-gold-mining-in-beni","status":"publish","type":"weekly-briefing","link":"https:\/\/ipisresearch.be\/nl\/weekly-briefing\/ipis-briefing-january-2021-armed-groups-challenging-opportunities-for-responsible-gold-mining-in-beni\/","title":{"rendered":"IPIS Briefing January 2021 – Armed groups challenging opportunities for responsible gold mining in Beni"},"content":{"rendered":"

The IPIS briefing offers a selection of articles, news and updates on natural resources, armed conflict, Business & Human Rights and arms trade.\u00a0 Every month, an editorial and related publications shed a light on a specific topic in IPIS\u2019 areas of research.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In focus:\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span>Armed groups challenging opportunities for responsible gold mining in Beni<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the news: Dan Gertler \u00e9chappe aux sanctions am\u00e9ricaines; Beny Steinmetz, a Mining Magnate, Found Guilty in Swiss Corruption Trial; Illicit financial flows hinder development in Africa \u2013 the UN must rise to the challenge of ending this.<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

New subscribers can register here<\/a> to receive the briefing and updates on IPIS\u2019 new maps and reports.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This briefing is produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of IPIS and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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IN FOCUS: ARMED GROUPS CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESPONSIBLE GOLD MINING IN BENI<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the last decade Beni territory in North Kivu has gained notoriety for high levels of insecurity linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), and the 2018 Ebola outbreak. The health crisis, violence and population displacements have seriously affected the local economy.<\/p>\n

IPIS and its partners ASADHO, ASSODIP and CEGEMI, have been working since 2019<\/a> to assess the potential of the area\u2019s artisanal gold mining sector to contribute to peace and stability. This work has been supported by the project \u201cEnsemble Pour Beni<\/em>\u201d(1).<\/p>\n

While Beni\u2019s gold mining sector has been neglected for many years, and production levels are affected by persistent insecurity, there is an important potential for gold to contribute to local development and poverty reduction. Late 2019, IPIS mapped more than thirty mining sites<\/a>, just in the North and West of the territory.<\/p>\n

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A wide range of challenges exist to realize more responsible gold mining and trade, including issues related to governance, working conditions, child labour, mining cooperatives, and legal permits. This article will however highlight the issues related to insecurity and the interference of armed groups in gold mining. Armed group activity continuous to be an important threat to gold miners, -traders and the Beni population in general (2).<\/p>\n

The mines in the north of the territory are affected by ADF rebels, while the ones to the west of Beni are regularly harassed by several Mai Mai groups.<\/p>\n

In brief, the main challenges related to insecurity around Beni\u2019s gold mines include: a delayed Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process; failed (military) strategies against ADF; and corruption and human rights violations by state security forces.<\/p>\n

DELAYED DDR<\/strong><\/p>\n

To the west of Beni town a string of interesting gold mining sites is located around the trading hubs of Mangina, Mununze, Ngoyo, Cantine, Mabalako and Visiki. In July 2020, the local multi-stakeholder committee (CLS-Beni, Comit\u00e9 Local de Suivi<\/em>) sent a Qualification Mission to the area, with the joint support of Pact\u2019s Sustainable Mine Site Validation project (SMSV) and \u201cEnsemble pour Beni<\/em>\u201d (via IPIS).<\/p>\n

The security situation is relatively calm in this area, as several Mai Mai groups expressed their willingness to lay down their arms. In July 2019, hundreds of combatants of the Union des Patriotes pour la Lib\u00e9ration du Congo<\/em> (UPLC) (3) surrendered to the FARDC. They responded to DRC President F\u00e9lix Tshisekedi\u2019s call to cease fighting<\/a>. Interviewees testified to ASADHO and ASSODIP in September-October 2019 that the security situation improved considerably following these events, as the Mai Mai groups were less hostile than they used to be (4).<\/p>\n

UPLC, also known as Mai Mai Kilalo, mainly operates in the area between Beni and Butembo, more in particular around Visiki, Mabuku, Kyavisogho and Vurondo. IPIS\u2019 research revealed that the group is also quite active more northwards, to the West of Beni town, around Mabalako, Kiboto and Ngoyo (Tokou mining site).<\/p>\n

Ever since a formal demobilization ceremony<\/a> in October 2019, very little progress has been made. Moreover, at a meeting of the Interprovincial Committee to Support the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Community Reintegration (CIAP-DDRC) in Butembo mid-October 2020, UPLC\u2019s spokesperson Jean-Marie Kakule Liso complained about bad living conditions<\/a> at the cantonment site in Kalunguta, as they were waiting for the DDR process to be launched.<\/p>\n

The provincial MP Saidi Balikwisha<\/a> raised this problem late 2020, stating: \u201cThere are more than 1.000 former combatants who are willing to disarm, but they are not being \u2018taken care of\u2019. The population of Mabalako, Ngadi, Mabuku, Lisasa, and Kalunguta suffer from these men\u2019s harassments as they have nothing to eat. These former rebels are living on the back of the population<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Impact on gold mining<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

IPIS\u2019 research in November 2019 revealed that UPLC elements regularly harrassed nearly all of the gold mines to the west and southwest of Beni town (5). Just a few examples:<\/p>\n