International Task Force on Illegal Exploitation and Trade in Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region

Talk of 'conflict resources', or 'conflict minerals' became common in the late 1990s, when so-called "blood diamonds" financed insurgencies like those in Angola and Sierra Leone. Yet the problem extends beyond diamonds, to tin, tungsten and tantalum (known as the "3Ts") - all important ingredients in consumer electronics. Gold is also part of the equation. Nowhere are the symptoms of illegal mineral exploitation more entrenched and more dramatic than in Eastern DRC.

The realization that instability in the resource-rich Great Lakes countries has been financed by illegal mineral sourcing and trading, has mobilized a broad coalition and prompted concrete measures like the "Regional Initiative on Natural Resources" of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the "Due Diligence Guidance" of the OECD. In March 2014 the EU began its own initiative on "Responsible Sourcing of Minerals originating in Conflict-affected and High-risk Areas". These efforts reflect a serious push to address a root cause of conflict. At political level they can help the success of the internationally-agreed "Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Region".

To assess the impact of these initiatives and discuss the way ahead, on 24 March the EEAS hosted the ninth meeting of the International Task Force on Illegal Exploitation of and Trade in Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region (ITF). The ITF was originally launched by the EU in 2009 - it is at the forefront of an effort to sensitize the international community on the issue of conflict minerals in the Great Lakes: it played a dominant role in the elaboration of the Due Diligence Guidance of the OECD. Partners from the diplomatic community, multilateral and regional organizations, technical experts and donors attended the ITF.

What are the main conclusions of the conference?

More than armed groups, criminal networks are now involved in illegal exploitation and trade in natural resources in the Great Lakes and their reach is regional and international. After years of weakened state authority in the eastern DRC, insurgency is predominantly economically motivated.

According to some estimates, illicit natural resources exploitation in eastern DRC is worth USD 1.25 billion per year. There is no definitive assessment of how much of this sum reaches transnational organized criminal groups, but it is certainly in the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. Armed groups probably see only a small percentage of the profits.

Organized crime financing is very complex, considering exploitation of gold, timber, charcoal, tin, tungsten and tantalum as well as local taxation schemes and wildlife.

Response must include actions against impunity, improved governance, reforming security forces, managing natural resources and promoting livelihood programmes.

Continued support for the ICGLR "Regional Certification Mechanism" is justified - but needs more attention to strengthening coordination and building trust from business.

The ITF should continue to steer stronger diplomatic engagement: by gathering those active in fighting illegal exploitation and trade in the region, the Task Force is a valuable platform to maximize efforts and avoid overlapping initiatives.