Project storage and expectations of the local community: The integration of new stakeholders through the Vault Initiative, a U.S.-backed consortium of technology and financial investors, radically reinforces ethical requirements. Companies such as KoBold Metals and Virtus Minerals Inc. (the buyer of Chemaf SA) are rethinking the concept of mineral exploration. For local communities, the inclusion of American organizations increases human rights enforcement opportunities, which is currently a prerequisite for investment rather than an optional promise. By financing these companies, the deal between the US and the DRC should create a clearly traceable supply chain, providing unprecedented pressure mechanisms to local residents.
The situation with the global mining giants: the increase in production occurs in a saturated mining industry. The Mining Industry register lists 3,320 companies, of which 1,600 are active, concentrated mainly in Upper Katanga (793) and Lualaba (726). Operations are managed by global giants such as Zijin Mining, CMOC Group Limited, China Minmetals Corporation (CMC), Jinchuan Group, Huayou Cobalt Co. Ltd, Ivanhoe Mines, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and Glencore. Gécamines remains a strategic partner of the State in almost all of these joint ventures.
Huge funding and a duty to exercise caution: The financial architecture supporting this industry is complex and includes leading multilateral development institutions and bilateral partners involved in the strategic competition between the United States and China. This ecosystem includes the World Bank Group (IFC and IDA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Bank for Trade and Development (BTP). Trading giants such as Glencore, Trafigura and Mercuria compete alongside commercial banks such as BNP Paribas and specialist consortia such as Orion Resource Partners.
The paradox of poverty and corporate impunity: Paradoxically, this billion-dollar influx of capital seems to stop at the gates of industrial enterprises, leaving the local population in extreme poverty. Despite a sound legislative framework, official reports and NGO reports indicate systemic impunity. Multinational corporations often seem to be protected, despite the fact that they are not fulfilling their obligations in the field of development and environmental restoration. The persistence of impunity and the ineffectiveness of existing control mechanisms require a paradigm shift. Civil society must go beyond mere condemnation and become a force that enforces the law.
Changing citizens' strategies: In the face of increased mining activity and its negative consequences, IRDH calls on civil society to reconsider its strategies. Multinational corporations and their financiers must be forced to strictly comply with their obligations to exercise caution. The proposed observatory will ensure strict compliance with environmental obligations that go beyond monitoring mining royalties, a target contribution of 0.3% and social requirements.
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