Another drop in the ocean of deregulation? The review of the EU Water Framework Directive and water due diligence in mineral-producing countries
July 7, 2026The European Commission’s upcoming review of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) acts as a turning point for European environmental governance. As the EU accelerates efforts to secure critical raw materials for the energy and digital transition, as announced in its RESourceEU Action Plan and reflected in the MoU it recently signed with the United States, mining actors are intensifying pressure
SAEMAPE and IPIS launch a training programme on the use of mapping tools to improve mining site data utilisation
July 6, 2026From 30 March to 2 April 2026, SAEMAPE and IPIS jointly organised a technical workshop to build the mapping capacities of staff from SAEMAPE and other mining agencies, such as the Mining Cadastre (CAMI) and the National Geological Survey (SGN-C). This workshop will be followed by further joint training sessions to enhance the technical skills of the Ministry’s experts in the use of modern geospati
Mapping mining permits in the Central African Republic: A new dashboard to support extractive sector transparency
June 25, 2026The mining sector of the Central African Republic is entering a new phase, but its trajectory remains uncertain. A revised mining code, the lifting of the Kimberley Process conflict diamond embargo and a rapidly expanding gold sector may create new opportunities for investment and public revenues. At the same time, CAR’s suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) expo
Empowering communities in Tanzania: Workshop on land rights and access to justice in natural resource extraction
June 25, 2026In June 2026, IPIS participated in a workshop hosted by Business and Human Rights Tanzania (BHRT) in Tarime, Mara region, under the theme Haki za Ardhi NchiniTanzania (land rights in Tanzania). The session aimed to strengthen legal awareness among host communities of small and large-scale mining, with particular attention to land rights, fair compensation, and access to remedy. By improving unders
Advancing responsible mining and community rights in Tanzania – Roundtable takeaways
April 3, 2026On 12 March 2026, IPIS, in cooperation with the Belgian Embassy to Tanzania and ENABEL, organized a roundtable discussion at the EU Delegation in Dar es Salaam. The roundtable aimed to explore how Tanzania’s growing (critical) minerals sector can contribute to inclusive development and community rights.
IPIS receives ICoCA Responsible Security Award for its Kuf(u)atilia incident monitoring systems
April 3, 2026In December 2025, IPIS was awarded the inaugural ICoCA Responsible Security Award for its work on the Kuf(u)atilia networks. IPIS was recognized for developing two community-based incident-monitoring systems: Kufatilia in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Kufuatilia in Tanzania.
Ituri: The Kufatilia Network strengthens the capacities of local actors for better governance of incidents in the mining sector
April 3, 2026From February 2 to 6, 2026, the Kufatilia Network in Ituri organized in Bunia a series of three workshops focused on capacity enhancement, stakeholder coordination, and improving incident management mechanisms in the artisanal mining sector.
The impact of bauxite mining on livestock farming and fishing in the prefecture of Boké in Guinea
March 23, 2026The prefecture of Boké in the Republic of Guinea is home to the world’s largest bauxite reserves. Bauxite is used to produce aluminum, a metal that is essential to the defense, construction, aerospace, and renewable energy industries. Driven by global demand, bauxite mining in Guinea has accelerated significantly since 2015. However, the environmental impact of the mining industry is undermining c
Workshops to present the results of the mapping of artisanal mining sites carried out in Ituri
December 19, 2025Following this research, the results were presented in workshops in the above-mentioned territories to mining monitoring committees and project stakeholders in August 2025, facilitated by the IPIS focal point, Justice Plus staff and the IPIS research team. The aim of these feedback sessions was to share the results of our research with local actors in order to make them more accessible, enable the
From decline to development: Reviving the diamond sector in Kasaï Oriental
December 17, 2025Earlier this year, IPIS published a report, “Diamonds in the DRC: A sector struggling to shine again”, which analyzed the current dynamics in the DRC’s diamond mining sector, including production trends, key challenges for both the large-scale (LSM) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sectors, as well as efforts and opportunities to revive the sector and increase its impact on local develop
Mapping artisanal mining sites in the Kibali gold mine concession in Faradje territory, Haut-Uélé, DRC
December 8, 2025In the Faradje administrative territory in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Haut-Uélé province, more than 5,000 people rely on artisanal gold mining to earn a living and support their families. Many artisanal-mining families have done so for generations. They currently work on sites that now fall largely within mining permits owned by Kibali Goldmines (Kibali), a joint venture of Ba
Infrastructure, extraction, and accountability around the Lobito Corridor in southern DRC
December 3, 2025Geopolitical framing of the Lobito Corridor The Lobito Corridor aims to connect the port of Lobito (Angola) to mineral-rich provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as the Zambian Copperbelt through a combination of rehabilitated and newly constructed rail infrastructure. Although not a new initiative, the project became a flagship of the
Voices from Tanzania – Exploring cultural norms limiting women’s participation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities in Mwakitolyo, Shinyanga region
October 9, 2025Women 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
Voices from Tanzania – Her place in the mine: Women’s struggles and aspirations in the gemstone sector of Kalalani, Tanga
September 30, 2025Tanzania 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
Voices from Tanzania – Well-being and economic mobility of women in the Mirerani Tanzanite mining area, Manyara
September 23, 2025Tanzanite, 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
Voix du Congo – The smuggling of coltan from South Kivu to Rwanda: Routes, factors, and implementation
July 22, 2025The escalation of conflict in eastern DRC has sparked increased media attention on coltan and its role as a driver of violence. While most coverage has focused on the production and (il)legal trade of coltan in North Kivu, smuggling is also widespread in South Kivu. This report examines the key smuggling routes, contributing factors, and practices.
Diamonds, conflict and crime in the Central African Republic: The lifting of the last Kimberley Process embargo
June 17, 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
May 6, 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
Diamonds in the DRC: A sector struggling to shine again
April 23, 2025The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is an important player in the global diamond industry, with considerable untapped potential. This report discusses the current state of play in the DRC’s diamond mining sector, including production trends, key challenges, as well as efforts and opportunities to revive the sector and to increase its impact on local development and socio-economic well-being
Mineral extraction, environmental harm, and conflict: The role of EU due diligence in promoting sustainable practices in conflict hotspots
April 16, 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
