Gold traceability: a call to strengthen ethical and responsible trade in the Great Lakes region
The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sama Lukonde, recently appealed to member states of the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (ICGLR) to strengthen the traceability of gold in the region. This call comes within the framework of the Regional Forum on gold exploitation, which was held from September 12 to 16 in Kinshasa.
The objective of this initiative, supported by the ICGLR Secretariat and the Congolese government, is to implement a strategy for artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Great Lakes region. This forum allowed participants to discuss ways to implement this strategy effectively, with the aim of ensuring peace, security, stability and economic development in the region.
Gold traceability is a major issue in this region rich in gold resources. By strengthening traceability practices, it becomes possible to promote more responsible and ethical trade in this precious material. This also makes it possible to combat illegal gold mining and guarantee fair remuneration for workers in the sector.
The Minister of Mines of the DRC, Antoinette N’Samba, stressed the importance of these discussions to take stock of the efforts made by each member state in improving transparency and the supply chain responsible for the artisanal gold. She also expressed concern over Rwanda’s aggression towards the DRC, a member state of the ICGLR.
The establishment of effective traceability of gold in the Great Lakes region will make it possible to enhance the economic potential of the gold sector and promote sustainable development. This will also contribute to strengthening cooperation between ICGLR member states and ensuring regional stability.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Sama Lukonde’s call to strengthen the traceability of gold in the Great Lakes region is an important step towards more responsible and ethical trading of this precious resource. This strategy aims to enhance the economic potential of the gold sector and promote sustainable development in the region. It now remains for ICGLR member states to put in place the necessary measures to guarantee effective traceability of gold, in the interest of all stakeholders involved.