The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Forum of the Great Lakes, Ambassador Onyango Kakoza has implored governments of the Great Lakes Region to address mineral linked conflicts in order to curb citizen displacements, and exacerbate Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
According to Amb. Kakoza, mineral linked conflicts like in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has displaced many women and children, perpetuated violence, adding that, it’s incumbent upon leaders in the region to address these conflicts through denying the violent groups access to mineral wealth.
The Ambassador said this at the ongoing engagement of mining actors in promoting positive masculinity as a preventative and response mechanism to address SGBV, held at the Common Wealth Resort Munyonyo.
“The wealth in the soil could bring development if used well. We have seen nations that have developed because of them. However, when used for bad, it can even bring wars like in Eastern DRC and one of the causes is the fight for minerals. But when those wars happen, those affected are mostly women who are even sexually abused,” he said.
He anticipated that if countries within the great lakes region cooperate, they will be able to come up with better solutions, stating that guns alone cannot help. He, therefore, called upon governments to include women in mining as this will help them be financially independent.
Dr. Angella Nakafeero, the Commissioner of Gender and Women Affairs said that, SGBV is increasing in the great lakes regions, adding that, many women who have escaped violence in Eastern DRC report being targeted.
Nakafeero noted that SGBV is now rampant among refugee communities in Uganda.
DRC has been experiencing escalating violence and massive displacement, with up to 6.9 million Internally Displaced People (IDPs) across the country making it one of the largest internal displacement and humanitarian crisis in the world.
The expansion of industrial-scale cobalt and copper mines in DRC has been a critical factor in the internal displacement crisis. The country is rich in minerals such as cobalt, copper, tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold which are used in various industries, including renewable energy systems and advanced electronics.
However, the mining and trade of these minerals have been associated with abusive labor environments, escalated violence, and severe human rights abuses, including sexual violence.
