VZCZCXRO4332
OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHKI #0278/01 0571431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 261430Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KINSHASA
TO ZEN/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RWANDA COLLECTIVE
SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 0014
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINSHASA 000278 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV CG ETRD ECON EINV
SUBJECT: Task Force on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources: 
Coordination, Commitment and Challenges 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The Task Force on Illegal Exploitation of 
Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region met for the fifth time 
on January 20-22, 2010 in Kinshasa. As the first Task Force meeting 
to be held in Kinshasa, and thus hosted by the government of the 
DRC (GDRC), much of the program consisted of formal presentations. 
Both the Minister and Vice Minister of Mines highlighted the need 
to ensure a broad range of GDRC agencies in efforts to brake the 
link between armed groups and the minerals trade; the need to 
re-establish government authority at key mining sites;  the role of 
regional cooperation, including in regional certification systems; 
STAREC (stabilization and reconstruction program for eastern DRC) 
as a key DRC policy; and the key challenge of controlling and 
monitoring the beginning of the supply chain.  European Union 
Special Representative (EUSR) for the Great Lakes Region Roeland 
van de Geer highlighted the nature of the Task Force as that of an 
ad hoc working group aimed at strengthening coordination and 
concrete actions to stop the illegal exploitation and trade of 
minerals in eastern DRC.  The Task Force meeting was generally 
positive, with the GDRC re-affirming its commitment to address the 
illegal exploitation and trade of minerals in the eastern DRC. The 
GDRC also largely agreed to the proposals presented by the Task 
Force. The Task Force is currently reviewing the GDRC's draft 
response on these proposals for formal approval.  While the 
program's presentations, including by the GDRC provided a thorough 
overview of the issues and challenges, they did not present much 
new in terms of GDRC policies or planned actions.  Internal 
discussions among Task Force members focused largely on ensuring 
that the transfer of the Task Force from the capital-level to 
Kinshasa and the GDRC did not result in the establishment of new 
mechanisms or structures to support efforts to address conflict 
minerals.  End summary. 
 
 
 
Task Force moves to Kinshasa 
 
---------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U) The January 20-22 Kinshasa meeting of the Task Force on 
Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region 
was attended by representatives, either from capitals or 
locally-based, of the following members countries or organizations: 
EU, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Canada, France, the United 
States and Spain.  Representatives from the OECD, MONUC (UN Mission 
in Congo), ICGRL (International Conference on the Great Lakes 
Region), Japan, India and South Africa also attended; China did not 
attend. The agenda included presentations by a range of GDRC 
officials, members of Congolese civil society and the private 
sector, international and regional organizations, and international 
NGOs. In addition to the formal program, Task Force members met 
internally on two occasions, as well as in smaller meetings with 
select members of the GDRC. The Task Force's proposals to the GDRC, 
agreed-to prior to the meeting, focused on eight areas: 
coordination; mapping; the legal framework; capacity building; the 
fight against impunity; due diligence; regional initiatives, 
including certification; and transparency. The GDRC provided the 
Task Force with an initial response to the proposal, which has been 
circulated to Task Force members for review and approval. 
 
 
 
Presentations highlight commitment and challenges 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In opening the meeting on behalf of the Task Force, 
European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Great Lakes 
Roeland van der Geer provided an overview of the objectives and 
structure of the Task Force, highlighting that it is an informal 
working group aimed at helping to support and find concrete 
solutions to brake the link between armed groups and the minerals 
trade in eastern DRC. The EUSR noted the eight proposal areas 
presented to the GDRC, noting our shared goal of accelerating and 
strengthening cooperation in these areas: The EUSR highlighted the 
importance of coordination, including support for current and new 
initiatives such as STAREC and the efforts of the ICGRL. The 
importance of capacity building and improving the legal framework 
 
KINSHASA 00000278  002 OF 003 
 
 
were also noted. Turning to mapping, the EUSR noted mapping 
efforts, including by the GDRC and NGO ISPS, but acknowledged the 
fluidness of control of such sites as a key challenge. Finally, the 
EUSR discussed current efforts and challenges to promote due 
diligence in the sector, including initiatives by ITRI (focused on 
the tin supply chain) and the OECD (focused on actions by 
multinational companies). The key, noted the EUSR, is to address 
the issue from both the supply and the demand side: putting in 
place greater systems of control and monitoring, while at the same 
time ensuring that legal trade is not undermined. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Presentations by GDRC Minister of Mines Martin Kabwelulu 
and Vice Minister of Mines Victor Kasango highlighted both strong 
GDRC commitment to braking the link between armed groups and the 
minerals trade in eastern DRC, and the GDRC's interest in working 
closely with the international community in these efforts. Both 
officials, as well as others from the GDRC, noted the need to 
re-establish government authority at key mining sites;  the role of 
regional cooperation, including in regional certification systems; 
STAREC as a key DRC policy; and the key challenge of controlling 
and monitoring the beginning of the supply chain. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU) A key component of GDRC efforts to bring greater 
oversight and control at the largely informal, early stage of the 
supply chain includes the establishment of trading centers ("centre 
de negoces," in French), which would allow for the deployment of 
various government agencies that oversee and regulate the minerals 
trade much closer to the mining sites. (Note: The trading center 
project includes five sites in North and South Kivu provinces. 
Construction for the first two trading centers will be launched 
shortly. The project is being implemented by IOM.  End note.) The 
GDRC is also working closely with regional partners, such as the 
ICGRL, on the development and implementation of certification 
schemes.  The GDRC stressed in presentations that any certification 
system must include regional trade partners and called on the 
international community to ensure support from regional countries 
in implementation of ICGRL efforts. Vice Minister Kasango also 
highlighted GDRC plans to publish a map of mining sites, which has 
already been initiated and will be published on the Ministry of 
Mines web-site when finalized.  The GDRC also touched-on the 
sensitive issue of demilitarization of mining sites, with the 
Ministry of Mines promising to work with the Ministry of Defense on 
the issue. 
 
 
 
Task Force internal discussions 
 
------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Task Force members met internally on January 20 and again 
on January 21. The EUSR noted that while the Task Force had now 
moved to Kinshasa, capital level meetings would occur as necessary. 
A principal topic of discussion -- and concern for locally-based 
members in particular -- was how the Task Force would work 
functionally.  It was stressed that the Task Force should work 
within existing mechanisms, including the STAREC committee and the 
GDRC-donor working group on the mining sector ("groupe thematique," 
in French), which has recently been reinvigorated in part due to 
the launch of the World Bank's new mining sector assistance 
program, Promines. (Note: The World Bank-led Promines program is a 
$100 million, five year technical assistance program that focuses 
on a broad range of activities aimed at improving overall 
management of the sector. End note.). 
 
 
 
 
 
Task Force proposals and GDRC response 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
KINSHASA 00000278  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) The GDRC presented the Task Force with an initial 
response on January 22 to the Task Force's proposals.  The Task 
Force proposals include eight areas: (1) coordination and follow-up 
mechanisms between the GDRC and international partners; (2)mapping 
of mining sites; (3) clarification of the legal framework 
applicable to companies operating in the mining sector; (4) The 
fight against impunity, including against members of the Congolese 
army involved in illegal exploitation and trade of minerals; (5) 
capacity building; (6) improved due diligence; (7) regional 
initiatives including certification; and, (8)increased transparency 
in the mining sector through the implementation of EITI.  The GDRC 
was largely receptive to the proposals presented and, in turn, 
provided Task Force members with a draft response that largely 
corresponded with the Task Force's proposals. (Note: The GDRC's 
response has been shared with Task Force members for review and 
approval. End note.). 
 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  The Task Force meeting, the first to be hosted 
by the GDRC, provided a positive opportunity to discuss key issues 
related to conflict minerals in eastern DRC.  While the GDRC used 
the meeting to show its commitment to addressing the issue with the 
cooperation of the international community, it did not provide any 
new ideas beyond those already known.  The donor community is 
already actively working with the GDRC to ensure that the task 
force proposals, as well as structure, is advanced through the two 
GDRC-donor mechanisms discussed:  the mining working group and the 
STAREC committee. Post believes that the GDRC is committed to 
implementing the task force proposals and that the revitalization 
of the mining working group, in particular, will be key to 
advancing these efforts.  End comment. 
GARVELINK