At the close of the National Dialogue on Mining Governance and Conflict in the DRC and Great Lakes Region, Patient Bashombe, Chief Moderator of the Crisis Committee for Peace and Security in the DRC (CCPS-RDC), welcomed the government’s recent move to negotiate directly with the United States on responsible mining practices in exchange for peace in conflict-affected areas.
Representing a coalition of civil society organizations, Bashombe stressed that these critical talks must include civil society voices to ensure community interests are protected.
“We need civil society at the negotiation table—not just as observers, but as active participants,” he said. “These contracts and peace agreements should reflect the needs and rights of the people who live on the land and depend on it.”
He emphasized that the DRC’s rich mineral resources should be used as tools for diplomacy and development—not as triggers for violence.
“We must stop dying for our minerals. Instead, let’s use them to negotiate fair, mutually beneficial deals that uplift not only the DRC but the whole region,” Bashombe added. “Our goal is shared prosperity.”
Bashombe also called on international partners to engage directly with local communities, rather than relying on intermediaries who may contribute to exploitation and conflict.
“If you want our minerals, come speak to the Congolese people—not just the power brokers. This is our chance to do things differently,” he said.
In a related development, the U.S. government reaffirmed its strong stance on Rwanda’s alleged involvement in regional instability and reported progress in ongoing negotiations with the DRC over a potential mining partnership.
This update followed a regional tour by Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor for Africa at the U.S. State Department, who briefed the media on Thursday, April 17.
