Briefings
Militarization, gender, and resource extraction in the Kivus post-January 2025
The Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced a significant shift in its conflict landscape over the last few years, and particularly after January 2025, involving a major territorial expansion by the M23 rebellion, and in response, the increased presence of local armed groups under the banner of the “Wazalendo”. This intensification of conflict has led to increased
Navigating insecurity: Community-combatant relations and the role of traditional leaders in Eastern DRC
The briefing is based on research in which IPIS itself was not involved. The data discussed were collected as part of a PhD research project at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zürich. For over two decades, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced persistent violence shaped by a complex web of armed groups, shifting alliances, and limited state presence. The
The EU Critical Raw Materials Act and the defence industry
In recent years, the EU has reshaped its raw materials strategy in response to the energy transition, global supply chain competition, and a geopolitical environment marked by increasing defence concerns. The intersection between climate policy, industrial strategy and security policy has become increasingly apparent, particularly through the adoption of the Green Deal, the Critical Raw Materials
After the tailings dam collapse: Community perspectives on compensation and restoration at the Williamson diamond mine, Tanzania
In 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
Mineral extraction, environmental harm, and conflict: The role of EU due diligence in promoting sustainable practices in conflict hotspots
In 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
Chinese investment in Tanzania’s small-scale mining: The challenge of technical support and regulatory oversight
DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – MARCH 2025 Chinese investments in Africa’s mineral sector have expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by China’s increased resource demand, the continent’s abundant mineral reserves and the risk-taking entrepreneurial culture among Chinese investors. To address concerns about ethical practices, the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals, and Chemicals Import
The rising spotlight on coltan: Understanding its strategic importance and role in the Eastern Congo conflict
In 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
Promoting DDR programmes while arming non-state armed groups: Congo’s paradoxical conflict resolution policies in the context of the M23 insurgency
When President Félix Tshisekedi came to power in 2019, he firmly promised the Congolese citizens to end the conflicts and restore peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To reach these goals, his government wanted to combine regional diplomacy to establish political and security cooperation between DRC and neighbouring countries, with enhanced military operations against armed groups
Balancing prosperity and rights: Advancing Tanzania’s Business and Human Rights agenda in extractives
DARUBINI – 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
The gendered dimensions of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation: A step forward in addressing gender-specific risks in conflict-affected mining areas?
The Regulation (EU) 2017/821, hereafter referred to as the Conflict Minerals Regulation (CMR), came into force in January 2021 to address the human rights abuses linked to the extraction and trade of so-called ‘conflict minerals’. These minerals, and explicitly tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (3TG), have been linked to the financing of armed conflict, forced labor, corruption, and money launderi
Insecurity in Niger in the wake of the junta’s rise to power: A persistent and growing challenge
Ce briefing est aussi disponible en français. On 26 July 2023, General Abdourahamane Tiani overthrew Niger’s democratically-elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on the pretext that the government had mishandled the economy and had failed to make sufficient progress against the country’s various insurgencies.1 This Friday, 6 December 2024, will mark the junta’s 500th day in power. Using attacks again
Tanzania’s path to ethical sourcing: Enhancing participation in global forums
DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – OCTOBER 2024 The global focus on responsible business conduct, particularly in extractive industries, has intensified discussions around human rights and ethical practices in mineral supply chains. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has taken a leading role in shaping the discourse, developing due diligence guidelines for responsible bu
Public benefit or burden: Land acquisition for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and its impact on agro-pastoral communities in Tanzania
Over the past year, momentum has been building in Tanzania for the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This 1,443 km-long pipeline will transport oil from the west of Uganda (Hoima district) to export facilities on Tanzania’s Indian Ocean coast in Tanga region. In December 2023, the project – a partnership between the governments of Uganda and Tanzania (through their natio
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
Advancing responsible oil and gas management: The Tanzania Liquified Natural Gas Project
DARUBINI – TANZANIA BRIEFING – AUGUST 2024 The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation. Today, Tanzania is on the brink of finalizing a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export deal. The Likong’o Liquefied Natural Gas Project aims to exploit the reserves discovered in an offshore basin in the Indian Ocean, with an estimated 57 trillion cubic feet of gas intended for export. The T
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
Unearthing equality: Women’s empowerment in Tanzania’s extractive sector
DARUBINI – 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
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
Access to remedy and extractive industries: The challenges of legal aid providers in Tanzania
DARUBINI – 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
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