Lets not undermine Nigel's interactions in Washington. Whether paid for or not . Nigel could be sitting in his office in Perth , or Interacting with important officials of the United States Government . Which would you prefer ? A stupid question I know , but some do have tendency to smug and smart ....arse .
AVZ Discussion 2022
- Thread starter GazDix
- Start date
Mute22
Regular
I'm sure the continental breakfast was lovely.
Do I need to do a /banter sign off every-time i'm joking?
I dig the humour . You snuck your post in while I was writing mine .Wasn't directed at you.
With the United States, we are engaged in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to certify DRC’s minerals, ensuring their traceability and preventing conflict minerals from entering supply chains,” he stated. “This initiative guarantees that our resources are responsibly sourced, upholding human rights and ethical mining practices.”
DRC Strengthens Mineral Traceability Amid Rising Conflict in the East - Copperbelt Katanga Mining
At a briefing on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba reaffirmed the Congolese government's commitment to strengthening mineralcopperbeltkatangamining.com
DRC STRENGTHENS MINERAL TRACEABILITY AMID RISING CONFLICT IN THE EAST
FEBRUARY 23, 2025 CONSTANCE
At a briefing on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Minister of Mines Kizito Pakabomba reaffirmed the Congolese government’s commitment to strengthening mineral traceability in response to ongoing conflict in the East, exacerbated by Rwanda’s support for the M23 rebel group.
Pakabomba highlighted that the DRC has undertaken significant measures to ensure its minerals meet international certification standards, particularly for the U.S. and European markets.
“With the United States, we are engaged in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to certify DRC’s minerals, ensuring their traceability and preventing conflict minerals from entering supply chains,” he stated. “This initiative guarantees that our resources are responsibly sourced, upholding human rights and ethical mining practices.”
As part of this initiative, the DRC has developed a roadmap with the MSP’s 14 member countries and the European Union to facilitate direct partnerships for responsible mineral supply chains.
Pakabomba also recalled that in 2022, the DRC signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Union for the supply of critical minerals.
In December 2024, a roadmap for mineral exports to Western markets was validated by the EU. These efforts aim to secure direct partnerships with the DRC, preventing illicit mineral flows through Rwanda.
Despite these efforts, the European Union and companies like Apple continue to source minerals from Rwanda, indirectly fueling the conflict in eastern DRC.
A 2024 UN report revealed that 150 tonnes of coltan are illegally mined in Rubaya, eastern DRC, and smuggled into Rwanda before being resold under a strategic minerals agreement signed with the EU in February 2024.
Pakabomba emphasized that these illicit trade networks undermine DRC’s sovereignty and perpetuate instability in the region. The government remains committed to working with international partners to ensure that DRC’s minerals reach global markets transparently and ethically.”
- - - - -
However, Jean Pierre Okenda (a rights lawyer and Senior Analyst in the field of extractive industries governance) in a recent interview with Mongabay, says the DRC hasn’t really addressed mineral traceability with China, just the western countries. (The full interview below is worth reading).
How illicit mining fuels violence in eastern DRC: Interview with Jean-Pierre Okenda
On Jan. 28, the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23 captured Goma, capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich North Kivu province. The fall of Goma marks a shocking chapter in a long-running conflict in the eastern DRC that has claimed millions of lives since it began in 1996...news.mongabay.com
“Mongabay: To go back, it sounds like China is the primary buyer of these minerals from Rwanda. Has the DRC government tried to raise this issue with them?
Jean-Pierre Okenda: I don’t know if they’ve done anything to discuss this with them. One of the recommendations I have for the government is to declare all the mining sites controlled by M23 as illegal. If you do that it would be a key starting point to start disconnecting some companies from buying those minerals. There are small Chinese companies that work on both sides, in Rwanda and in the Congo. The Chinese investments are not responsible, we know that, so we need them to make their supply chains transparent”
“Mongabay: It seems very surprising to me that the DRC hasn’t raised this seriously with its Chinese partners. This is a major crisis, it’s losing territory.
Jean-Pierre Okenda: That’s a very good question. No one wants the supply chain to become transparent, including Congolese authorities. That’s very important to highlight.
Mongabay: Why would that be?
Jean-Pierre Okenda: Because you have a huge involvement of Congolese authorities in the artisanal mining sector. They are getting a lot of money. That’s really important. No one really has an interest in making the supply train transparent, not the authorities in Rwanda or in Congo, the middlemen, or Chinese and other companies. We’ve been struggling to formalize artisanal mining across the country, and the authorities are one of the reasons why. Now I think that the war is coming, and I’m sure there’s a fear that they can lose power, they’re doing what they can do to limit it. But previously no one had an interest in normalizing things.
From my perspective, you have so much populist speech here in the DRC that Western countries are supporting Rwanda, providing budget and aid to it. But I don’t understand why the government doesn’t like to discuss China. I think they prefer to focus on the Western countries and pay less attention on the fact that the buyers of these minerals are Chinese. From what I understand from the Ministry of Mines, they are reflecting on how they can sit down with China, but nothing has been done yet. They didn’t even enforce the mining code before. Even myself, I don’t understand this.”
“Mongabay: Without being able to put leverage on China, it sounds like it’s going to be very difficult to shut these supply chains down.
Jean-Pierre Okenda: The impact will be limited. If we want to get the maximum impact, it will mean engaging Western companies to stop, but at the same time we have to leverage the Chinese. That would put pressure on Rwanda, because their budget is dependent on the mining sector. China is the big question mark.”
What a backflick or another corrupt minister just presenting but not doing anything to really change the situation.
I think you might be right Wombat ... if the heat becomes too intense Felix disappears to Belgium.
This report high lights the concern for DRC and importance of US support regarding security.
800 POLICE officers change allegiance ... to M23
A unity government ? How will Felix finance it.
Some back ground to M23 and illegal mining.
Actors Must Suspend Sourcing Minerals Financing Armed Groups in Democratic Republic of Congo - IMPACT
Over 15 years ago, the term “conflict minerals” was first coined—driving attention to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). International and regional efforts emerged to address the role that the illicit trade of high-value minerals from eastern DRC was playing in financing various armed groups...
impacttransform.org
I was chatting thru all these permutations with my partner tonight (who is from Botswana - don't let me start on her view of the African male egos we are dealing with - you DO NOT. Want to experience the wrath of an African Queen
). But ....What if all these meetings with Burindi etc mean that St Nigel will become the next Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the one who manages to broker a peace deal between the DRC, M23, Rwanda and manages to ride off into the sunset with a fully functioning lithium and tin mine in Manono.
Hollywood here we come.....
With the United States, we are engaged in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to certify DRC’s minerals, ensuring their traceability and preventing conflict minerals from entering supply chains,” he stated. “This initiative guarantees that our resources are responsibly sourced, upholding human rights and ethical mining practices.”
What a backflick or another corrupt minister just presenting but not doing anything to really change the situation.
I think you might be right Wombat ... if the heat becomes too intense Felix disappears to Belgium.
This report high lights the concern for DRC and importance of US support regarding security.
800 POLICE officers change allegiance ... to M23
A unity government ? How will Felix finance it.
Some back ground to M23 and illegal mining.
Actors Must Suspend Sourcing Minerals Financing Armed Groups in Democratic Republic of Congo - IMPACT
Over 15 years ago, the term “conflict minerals” was first coined—driving attention to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). International and regional efforts emerged to address the role that the illicit trade of high-value minerals from eastern DRC was playing in financing various armed groups...
Congo offers US, Europe minerals in exchange for peace
President Felix Tshisekedi urged direct trade and didn't rule out a minerals deal if tied to ending the nation's conflict.
www.mining.com
EU foreign ministers met on Monday and failed to reach a consensus on immediate sanctions against Rwanda for its alleged involvement in the conflict. The bloc has, however, signalled a possible reassessment of its raw materials agreement with Rwanda.
“We have urged Rwanda to withdraw its troops, and the Memorandum of Understanding regarding critical raw materials will be under review,” the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday.
Belgium, DRC’s former colonial ruler, signed a separate agreement with the African nation in February 2023 as part of the EU’s broader efforts to secure critical mineral supplies. That deal described Rwanda as a “major player” in the global extraction of tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold, while also noting the country’s “potential” in lithium and rare earth mining.
So if EU pull out of sourcing critical minerals from Rwanda then who does Rwanda sell the illegal materials to/ China.
OR
USA steps in.
Hopefully a takeover offer for AVZ minerals is sooner than later.
THats the issue with sanctions in a new world order headed up by China. The West can sanction all they want but the Chinese don't care, in fact they jump for glee as they just vacuum up everything that is now at a massive discount. They bring it domestic, process it, manufacture and just sell it all back to the goody two shoes in the west for profits all along the supply chain. It's a joke.
These African leaders don't care either as long as their pockets are getting lined.
These African leaders don't care either as long as their pockets are getting lined.
Remark
Top 20
Wow, a classic anti Chinese & African bait, well done!
Frank
Top 20
I was chatting thru all these permutations with my partner tonight (who is from Botswana - don't let me start on her view of the African male egos we are dealing with - you DO NOT. Want to experience the wrath of an African Queen
What if all these meetings with Burindi etc mean that St Nigel will become the next Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the one who manages to broker a peace deal between the DRC, M23, Rwanda and manages to ride off into the sunset with a fully functioning lithium and tin mine in Manono.
Hollywood here we come.....
Have you actually read my posts?
I’d suggest you go have a read. I’ve been nothing but pro board and anti China (insofar as the means they’ve tried to illegally acquire Manono). I can’t disclose too much publicly but I am certainly not pro Chinese. I can assure you of that…
I have also raised extremely valid broad concerns and have raised questions that I thought I’d share which I didn’t have any clear answer to.
If you’re one of those wanks that think I’m Shane or whatever then just jog on. I’ve been a shareholder in AVZ since 2018 and on other platforms have nothing but promoted AVZ and it’s cause.
Again, I’m more than happy to liaise with you (and whoever else that is obsessed with this PhatCatz is Shane schtick) but have not received a single DM. So obviously my conclusion is you are just after some cheap “likes” and backslapping “gotchas” with your little clique.
If only you knew.
TheCount
Regular
Continues the line that "we're going mining"...
Good to see.
Hookers, booze, coke, free in-flight drinks, bit of a party-fest with Trump and Elon, unlimited Macca's and hotel room service are the first few things that I could think of....
Just a bit of background on this nice man who is giving Cominiere an absolute pasting on X.
Jean Pierre Okenda is a lawyer and Senior Analyst in the field of extractive industries governance. Since
2021, he has worked for Resource Matters as Country Director and Director of Extractive Industries
where he coordinates research, analysis and advocacy activities to promote good governance in the
extractive sector in the DRC.
Jean Pierre also worked for The Natural Resource Governance Institute as Country Director for the DRC
where he coordinated a range of projects, including support for legal reforms. Prior to joining NRGI, he
worked for The Carter Center and CORDAID promoting good governance in the extractive sector. In this
capacity, he has over 18 years’ experience, including 14 years of continuous experience with
international NGOs, with several publications to his credit.
Jean Pierre Okenda
Country Director, The Natural Resource Governance Institute, DRC
Jean Pierre Okenda is a lawyer and Senior Analyst in the field of extractive industries governance. Since
2021, he has worked for Resource Matters as Country Director and Director of Extractive Industries
where he coordinates research, analysis and advocacy activities to promote good governance in the
extractive sector in the DRC.
Jean Pierre also worked for The Natural Resource Governance Institute as Country Director for the DRC
where he coordinated a range of projects, including support for legal reforms. Prior to joining NRGI, he
worked for The Carter Center and CORDAID promoting good governance in the extractive sector. In this
capacity, he has over 18 years’ experience, including 14 years of continuous experience with
international NGOs, with several publications to his credit.
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