The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis
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50 International Alert<br />
Trade routes: the Kisangani detour<br />
Kisangani plays a less pivotal role <strong>in</strong> most m<strong>in</strong>eral trade <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce, apart from when it<br />
comes to diamonds. <strong>The</strong> relative absence <strong>of</strong> gold, cassiterite and coltan comptoirs <strong>in</strong> Kisangani<br />
makes captur<strong>in</strong>g the trade dynamics challeng<strong>in</strong>g. For these m<strong>in</strong>erals, government data <strong>in</strong> the<br />
trade dest<strong>in</strong>ation towns <strong>of</strong> Butembo, Bunia and, to a lesser extent, Goma, is more reveal<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Field <strong>in</strong>terviews and CEEC reports <strong>in</strong>dicate an <strong>in</strong>creased transhipment <strong>of</strong> cassiterite from Lubutu<br />
territory, Maniema prov<strong>in</strong>ce and Walikale territory, <strong>in</strong> North Kivu, through Kisangani before<br />
arriv<strong>in</strong>g at Beni, Butembo and Goma.<br />
It is important to understand the dynamics around this <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>erals transit<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
Lubutu and Walikale. Traders argue that now the road from Kisangani to Beni/Butembo is open,<br />
transport costs are significantly less than by plane from Walikale, Lubutu or Kisangani straight to<br />
Butembo or Goma, and that they are seek<strong>in</strong>g the most cost-effective means <strong>of</strong> transport for their<br />
product. 194<br />
This choice <strong>of</strong> route may also reflect an attempt by traders to evade the tighten<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> traceability<br />
<strong>in</strong> the sector. S<strong>in</strong>ce 2009, with <strong>in</strong>creased advocacy on the issue <strong>of</strong> the l<strong>in</strong>ks between conflict<br />
and <strong>resource</strong> exploitation, the m<strong>in</strong>erals trade has been threatened by a real risk <strong>of</strong> embargo.<br />
As some sources po<strong>in</strong>t out, by the time m<strong>in</strong>erals reach Kisangani they have been effectively<br />
“blanchis” (“whitened”). 195 For example, part <strong>of</strong> the cassiterite transit<strong>in</strong>g through Kisangani is<br />
declared as orig<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g from Lubutu when it is actually m<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Walikale. 196 <strong>The</strong> Butembo CEEC<br />
acknowledges that a circuitous route is be<strong>in</strong>g used and claims to have launched <strong>in</strong>vestigations and<br />
vehicle controls as <strong>of</strong> May 2009. 197 By July 2009, CEEC reported that cassiterite com<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
Walikale via Kisangani had become a ‘regular’ occurrence. 198<br />
Kisangani aside, two major axes <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>eral trade routes exist for the areas concerned <strong>in</strong> this<br />
research. <strong>The</strong> first extends upwards towards Bunia, eventually fann<strong>in</strong>g out through a series <strong>of</strong><br />
eastern corridors north <strong>of</strong> the town, along the porous borders with Uganda and Sudan. This wellestablished<br />
trade route for gold has been described <strong>in</strong> detail <strong>in</strong> previous reports by <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
organisations, and was not the primary focus <strong>of</strong> this mission. 199<br />
<strong>The</strong> second major axis is through a number <strong>of</strong> subsidiary routes across the southern edge <strong>of</strong> the<br />
prov<strong>in</strong>ce towards Butembo, via Beni, and <strong>in</strong> some cases, eventually towards Goma. We have<br />
focused on this series <strong>of</strong> trade routes, given the paucity <strong>of</strong> exist<strong>in</strong>g documentation for this part <strong>of</strong><br />
the prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
Trade routes: Bafwasende territory<br />
<strong>The</strong> challenges <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> accessibility to Opienge, and the virtual absence <strong>of</strong> government<br />
representation beyond Opienge and Balobe, make it hard to draw substantive conclusions on<br />
trade routes and dynamics. Most government <strong>of</strong>ficials are no longer stationed <strong>in</strong> Opienge and<br />
prefer to stay <strong>in</strong> Bafwasende due to the protracted <strong>in</strong>security experienced <strong>in</strong> this part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
territory (BOX 6).<br />
194 Field <strong>in</strong>terviews, June and July 2010.<br />
195 Interview, economic operators, Kisangani, June and July 2010.<br />
196 Interviews, June 2010.<br />
197 CEEC Butembo. 2009 Statistical Report, p. 4.<br />
198 Ibid. p. 8.<br />
199 See Trad<strong>in</strong>g for Peace (DFID/USAID/COMESA), International Crisis Group, and Human Rights Watch reports for Ituri District s<strong>in</strong>ce 2004.