Fr Justin Nkunzi, justice and peace commission director of the Archdiocese of Bukavu, called on the Congolese government to ensure that trade from minerals, including gold, does not benefit militant groups responsible for violence in the country.
Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, he also called on industry leaders to improve transparency of the supply chain which would allow buyers to trace the source of their gold.
In an interview given during a visit to the UK, Fr Nkunzi said: “If you buy diamonds and gold from rebel held areas. It helps the rebels – they can buy weapons and guns and continue the war.”
Fr Nkunzi said: “If the UK government could assist our authorities to stamp out the illegal exploitation of our natural resources, it would be a way of helping Congolese people to build peace.”
DR Congo is beset by serious problems – including sexual violence, child soldiers, and refugees fleeing conflict – all of which are caused by rebel action which is funded by the mineral trade.
Fr Nkunzi said: “In our country many people suffer, you probably know the story of the dictator Mobutu [President from 1965 to 1997] which led us to many years of war and caused us many problems such as the rape of our women, social violence, child soldiers, and refugees. The church must be wherever someone asks us for our help.
“Everyone must do the best they can to bring peace, first within your heart, second in the family, then in all the community.”
He condemned the use of child soldiers – people as young as 10 who have been forced or coerced, sometimes at gun point – to join militia groups.
“Rebel groups have so many child soldiers. We must give support to these children, help them to leave militia camps in the forest and bring them back to the village," he said.
Yet it is difficult to reintegrate child soldiers back into the community.
