DR Congo:
Dreaming of Democracy
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| Few Congolese have benefited from their country's vast mineral wealth |
Some 70
tonnes of smuggled minerals seized by Rwandan police is being handed back to
the Democratic Republic of Congo in a sign of improved relations between the
two neighbours.
The
minerals include cassiterite, or tin ore, as well as coltan, used in devices
such as mobile phones.
The return
of the materials follows new international regulations aimed at cleaning up the
mineral sector.
DR Congo's
mineral wealth has been a major factor in recent unrest.
Armed
groups - local and foreign - have seized control of many mines in the east,
bordering Rwanda and few Congolese have benefited from their country's vast
mineral wealth.
Rwanda has
twice invaded DR Congo saying it was fighting rebel groups based there but its
army has been accused of looting minerals during the conflict.
BBC East
Africa correspondent Will Ross says the handover ceremony at the border is a
sign of the greatly improved relations between two countries that have often
been bitter enemies.
Rwanda has
for years been a major conduit for conflict minerals from DR Congo, our
correspondent says.
It long
denied any involvement but now supports efforts to make the trade more
transparent.
The
landlocked country has mineral deposits within its own borders and wants to
label them conflict-free, our correspondent says.
But as
Rwanda stands to lose out on vast revenues from the trade in Congo some
analysts question just how rigorous the authorities there will be.
Earlier
this week, a website was launched to promote transparency in the Congolese
mining sector.
The Carter
Center said www.congomines.org would give people more information about the
mining sector, including contracts and payments.
Hundreds of
mining documents and maps will be published on the site, it said.
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