By Anne Vickers

When the poor and needy seek water, I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  Isaiah 41:17-18 

In the previous newsletter, Jacques Bahati wrote “the foreign multinationals [have] been looting Congolese natural resources, leaving nothing to the people and nurturing war by arming rebel factions.”  During my time at AFJN, I have been researching one such example: the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its effects on the DRC’s water supply.

In a presentation to the Consultation on the Extractive Sector, November 2005, Amnesty International states:

“The DRC conflict has killed three million people and more than 2.5 million have been driven from their homes in mineral-rich lands. Combatants have killed or tortured independent miners and traders for their minerals or money.  Several companies in eastern DRC have provided resources in the form of taxation, or provide services, or otherwise contribute to the warring factions’ revenues, otherwise they cannot operate in the area. Consistent testimonies show that in some instances such contributions are the major, if not the sole, source of finance with which armed groups acquire weapons which are then used to commit human rights abuses against civilians. The link between companies and the war is clear, and the companies are indirectly contributing to the cycle of violence.” (Amnesty International, 2005)

Furthermore, corrupt contracts have been signed that give away large portions of DRC’s mineral wealth and benefit only the companies and high ranking officials who made the deals.  On April 20, 2007, Martin Kabwelulu, the Minister of Mines, announced the creation of an inter-ministerial commission to “revisit” these contracts between private companies and the state. Meanwhile, the mining industry continues to exploit the Congolese people.