The complexiTy of resource governance in a conTexT of sTaTe ... - Ipis

The complexity of resource governance in a context of state fragility: An analysis of the mining sector in the Kivu hinterlands
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Executive Summary
i) Background context
The report ‘Mining activity and mineral trade in the Kivu hinterland’ was commissioned by the
Directorate General for Development (DG DEV) of the European Commission and aims to fill an
information gap by identifying the principal mining sites and analysing the trade networks of the
‘eastern hinterland’ of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in Maniema, North
Katanga and Orientale Province, and the transport networks from these territories to the regional
hubs of Bukavu, Goma, Butembo and Bunia.
Following constant reports of insecurity and human rights violations related to mining activity
in the Kivu provinces and Ituri over the past years, the mining sector in these areas has been the
subject of several publications. In these texts, the conflict-ridden Kivu provinces are generally
depicted as a region beyond the control of the state where shadow economies thrive (an analysis
with which Congolese President Joseph Kabila seemed to agree when he suspended all mining
activities in North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema on 11th September 2010).
However, whether these shadow economies extend into other important mining areas bordering
the Kivus and Ituri is unclear since little documentation exists on production circuits in the
hinterland west of the Kivus. It was therefore felt that investigating the specific problems and
opportunities of the mining sector in these less-known areas would be worthwhile.
The report is built around three chapters: the first examines mining activity in Northern Katanga;
the second looks at Maniema territory on the east bank of the Congo River; and the third surveys
the mining sector in Bafwasende and Mambasa territories in Orientale Province.
Each chapter follows the same structure. In a first section, the mineral resources of the area in
question are discussed. In a second, the most important mines are presented. The third section
deals with the mining sector: the traders, transport, mining companies, etc. The fourth section
examines human rights violations, and the involvement of armed groups and the Congolese
national army in mining areas.
As an integral part of this study, three detailed maps are published online at:
www.ipisresearch.be/maps/hinterland/Katanga/web/index.html
www.ipisresearch.be/maps/hinterland/Orientale/web/index.html
www.ipisresearch.be/maps/hinterland/Maniema/web/index.html
Besides the locations of mining sites discussed in this report, these maps show information on
ownership, militia or army involvement, numbers of artisanal miners, mineral prices and several
other important variables. Guidelines on their use are available online at the same webpage.
Besides an array of other sources, each of the three main chapters builds on these maps.
ii) Key findings
• The hinterland region is by no means inferior to the Kivus in terms of mineral production.
Maniema accounts for a considerable share of the cassiterite arriving in Bukavu and Goma,
the main trade centres; Northern Katanga is the most important supplier of coltan to Bukavu