Title: Gold in question: Regional forum on the fight against mining fraud
Introduction :
The regional forum on the implementation of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold strategy was held from September 12 to 15, 2023 in Kinshasa. This event, co-organized by the secretariat of the ICGLR (International Conference on the Great Lakes Region) and the Congolese government, brought together representatives of member states as well as experts from the gold sector. The discussions mainly focused on the consequences of mining fraud and smuggling, as well as ways to strengthen regional cooperation to combat these practices.
Considerable economic and social issues:
Mining fraud and smuggling have a devastating impact on the economies of countries in the Great Lakes region. Indeed, illegal gold mining deprives local governments of significant financial resources that could be invested in the socio-economic development of mining communities. Furthermore, these illegal practices promote corruption and instability, thus fueling conflicts in the region.
Forum recommendations:
Forum participants made numerous recommendations to combat mining fraud and smuggling. First, they called on ICGLR member states to implement the non-aggression protocols on the repression of war crimes. This strengthened cooperation would make it possible to effectively combat the illegal exploitation of natural resources, including gold.
Furthermore, the participants underlined the importance of respecting the provisions of Article 5 of the pact on security, stability and development in the Great Lakes region. This would encourage responsible cross-border trade in gold, ensuring traceability and transparency in the supply chain.
Conclusion :
The regional forum on the implementation of the gold strategy for artisanal and small-scale mining was an opportunity to highlight the issues linked to mining fraud and smuggling in the region. Big lakes. The recommendations made at this event call for strengthened cooperation between ICGLR member states to combat these practices and ensure responsible gold trade. Only concerted action can put an end to illegal mining and promote the sustainable development of mining communities.