Bishops say “Congo not for sale”

Group of miners in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of Congo [Richard Wainwright]

The Congolese Bishops' Conference has spoken out against "corruption and exploitation" in a government review of more than 60 mining contracts

The bishops say corruption, exploitation, and a scramble for resources mean that “minerals, oil and woodland have become a cause of our poverty, instead of benefiting the population and facilitating the path to development.”

Despite being rich in natural resources such as gold, diamonds and copper, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the eleventh poorest country in the world.

Kept in the dark

Multinational company AngloGold Ashanti hope to open a new large-scale mine in Mongbwalu - the area featured in CAFOD’s recent Pure Gold? exhibition .

Its contract is included the review, but the community has not been given the chance to input, and says it has received little information about progress.

CAFOD policy analyst Sonya Maldar says the Congolese government’s commitment to reviewing mining contracts is a "positive step forward”, but criticises the lack of a "clear time frame" or criteria for negotiating with mining companies.

She comments: "The people who will be most affected by any changes - and who are already living in poverty - are still being kept in the dark about decisions which affects their lives and futures.”

As part of the Unearth Justice campaign, CAFOD and its Congolese partners are calling on the government and mining companies to give local communities a greater say over mining operations - so they too can share in the benefits of mining.

As well as calling on the government to act, the bishops want to be part of the renegotiation process and to raise awareness among local communities about their own responsibility for natural resources.

They urge: “We have often endured our destiny; we must now choose to build our future. Congo is not for sale. The Congo’s destiny belongs to the Congolese people.”

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