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Response to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office written Ministerial Statement: 'Democratic Republic of Congo: Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (17/12/03)'

The APPG welcomes the UK Government’s response to the UN Panel report on the Illegal Exploitation of the Natural Resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the recognition that illegal exploitation of natural resources fuels the conflict there. The APPG also welcomes Resolution 1533, adopted today by the Security Council, which establishes a monitoring mechanism for the arms embargo placed on the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo by Resolution 1493.

The APPG welcomes the UK Government’s acceptance that as well as looking forward, ‘we need to address what has happened in the past’ and that the UK Government ‘take[s] seriously the allegations made against the British companies named in the [UN panel] report’.

The APPG highlights the statement by Chaim Even-Zohar in Diamond Intelligence Briefs (Jan 2004) that from an industry perspective, ‘[w]hat is needed is a definite, unequivocal, and authoritative finding which either clears the good names and reputation of the companies mentioned, or a finding that the OECD’s (voluntary) rules have been violated, in which cases remedies must be found and agreed upon.’

The APPG urges the UK Government to conduct a full investigation into the allegations made in the UN Panel report. Such action would be in accordance with the Statement by the President of the Security Council in November 2003 which, amongst other things, urged the UK and other states to proceed with their own investigations, on the basis, in particular, of information and documentation accumulated by the Panel during its work.

The APPG notes that the DTI National Contact Point (NCP) received cases for investigation, referred from the UN Panel, in October 2003. The APPG believes that the NCP requires further support to enable an effective investigation to take place, and urges other UK Government departments to assist wherever possible.

The APPG believes that the full investigation of the allegations made by the UN Panel, including those relating to the timber industry, is imperative. An investigation provides the best available means to ensure both that any conduct contrary to the guidelines is brought to light, and also that companies are able to clear their names.

The APPG expresses its hope that the UK Government will take the lead in making full use of both the DRC’s new anti-corruption commission, and also the Extractive Industries Transparency Index, to foster a climate where transparency and accountability to the people of the DRC are central to inward investment.