Minerals and Africa's Great Lakes Region
The ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism
This report prepared by PAC for the ICGLR and released in March 2011, describes the regional certification mechanism (RCM) for tracking high value and conflict prone minerals in Africa’s Great Lakes region. Based on lessons learned from other certification mechanisms, particularly the Kimberley Process, it promotes key principles that will make for a stronger and more effective regulatory scheme for four minerals—namely gold, coltan, tungsten and tin.
This briefing note provides an outline of the Regional Certification Mechanism for conflict minerals currently being established in the DRC and neighbouring countries, along with an update on implementation efforts.
The certification manual outlines and describes each of the necessary steps for implementation of the Regional Certification Mechanism, identifying the key actors involved in the RCM and their key roles and responsibilities. To view the appendices of the manual, click here.
ICGLR Member State Legislation
The following ICGLR Members have passed the Regional Certification Mechanism into domestic legislation.
Democratic Repbulic of the Congo (French Only)
Mineral Tracking
This report is a preliminary evaluation conducted by Partnership Africa Canada of a new digital tracking technology for conflict minerals currently operational at the Rutongo Mines site in Rwanda. This is the first time this technology has been applied in the Great Lakes region.
Great Lakes Civil Society Coalition against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources
PAC supports a regional civil society platform in the Great Lakes Region that works towards ending the illegal exploitation of natural resources. Members of the platform have given their support and committed to the platform through a statement of support, which can be viewed here (French Only).