M23 Rebels Fuel Sexual Terrorism and Child Soldiers in Congo

Jan 4, 2014 10:15 AM ET
Campaign: Conflict Minerals

The United Nations is furious over recent reports of execution, child soldiers and slavery, and sexual terrorism by the hands of the Congolese army. The military is accused as corrupt, while breaching human rights and fueling the civil war in the Congo. Although rebel group M23 were recently defeated by the army in their attacks, they are still actively and aggressively recruiting soldiers, many of whom are children. 

The UN’s allegations are devastating in spite of the armed conflict of guerrilla warfare that’s become eminent in the Congo. The nation is in dire need of military support and the evidence against its own military is grave. 

The ongoing terrorism in Africa has spiraled out of control due to the sourcing of raw materials in the rich mining provinces of the Congo and it’s neighboring countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and its surrounding Eastern Provinces are high risk areas of conflict for the minerals. The raw materials are monopolized by armed guerrilla groups who exploit masses of innocent civilians for mining labor without wages. The raw materials have been coined as Conflict Minerals similar in reference to Blood Diamonds and are otherwise known as 3TG (Tantalum, Tungsten, Tin, and Gold).

Following the new year corporations will be pressured by U.S. legislative act Dodd Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act SEC 1502, regarding the mitigation and consumption of Conflict Minerals in industry supply chains. The law will directly and indirectly impact international corporations and partners of the U.S. The deadline for final reporting and the execution of Due Diligence for publicly traded U.S. companies is due May 31, 2014. 

The implementation of Dodd-Frank will enforce supply chain transparency and demand the Due Diligence of industries to enact Human Rights. To see how to accomplish this request a free demo from Source Intelligence.