The biggest obstacle to eliminating mining abuses in the DRC is kleptocracy. This system of state capture allows the ruling elites and their commercial partners to profit while leaving the population to suffer from poor security and health care. Watch his testimony here
During the 3-hour hearing, there was strong bipartisan interest in our policy ideas. Sasha outlined our three main proposals for the Trump administration, tech companies, and banks. Our policy proposals include: - Sanctions. The Treasury Department should investigate and sanction the networks that facilitate grand corruption, from the refineries in Rwanda, Uganda, and Dubai that trade in conflict gold to the Chinese middlemen and senior Rwandan and Congolese officials who aid illegal armed groups like the M23 and facilitate bribery.
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Illicit gold. Secretary of State Marco Rubio should lead a public-private initiative to combat illicit gold, partnering with the London Bullion Market Association and banks. The initiative should increase gold trade transparency and empower independent monitoring teams to inspect and certify gold smuggling hubs.
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Transparency. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Electronics and automotive companies should use their buying power to require Chinese and other suppliers to publish the ownership structures of mining companies and contracts and to source only from refiners of cobalt and copper that have passed credible audits.
We hope you will join us in our work to counter those fueling and profiting from conflict and support the expanding global effort to bring an end to the DRC's suffering. Sincerely,
Justyna Gudzowska
Executive Director, The Sentry |
