AFRICA鈥橲 鈥渨orld war鈥� took a small step towards peace last week with a new deal between the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. But that doesn鈥檛 mean the rampant exploitation of central Africa鈥檚 natural resources and the suffering of its people will end. The peace deal could even fuel the conflict by encouraging companies who trade in DRC鈥檚 minerals to return to the area.
The four-year civil war has claimed the lives of some 3 million people and displaced millions more. The bewildering mix of rebel factions is supported by five neighbouring countries. But despite its origins in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, the war is no longer about ethnic tension or border security, but about greed. The conflict 鈥渉as become mainly about access, control and trade in key mineral resources鈥�, said a UN report on the war in 2001. 鈥淭he only loser in this huge business venture is the Congolese people.鈥�
Perhaps the biggest prize has been coltan, a mixture of minerals columbite and tantalite. Tantalum, the metal from tantalite ore, is used in capacitors and can be found in every mobile phone or laptop computer. Between 1999 and 2000, the price of tantalum skyrocketed to $500 per pound before crashing again in 2001. The boom was a disaster for DRC. New-found riches escalated the war and paid for weapons as rebel factions fought for control of the lucrative mines (New Scientist, 7 April 2001, p46).
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Under last week鈥檚 deal, Rwandan president Paul Kagame has agreed to pull his troops out of DRC in 60 days if Joseph Kabila, the DRC president, rounds up Hutu rebels. 鈥淓veryone is very hopeful,鈥� Patricia Tome, head of the UN mission in Kinshasa told New Scientist. 鈥淚t demonstrates political will to end the conflict.鈥�
But many doubt the deal will hold. Finding the rebels is an impossible task for Kabila, says Tim Raeymaekers of non-governmental organisation the International Peace Information Service. And according to the International Crisis Group (ICG), another NGO, only two weeks ago Rwanda was sending more troops into DRC, casting doubt on its plan to pull out of the region. ICG estimates that there are at least 35,000 Rwandan soldiers in DRC, but Rwanda admits to only 10,000.
Either way, the deal won鈥檛 affect the exploitation of resources in the region, says Fran莽ois Grignon of ICG. Even if Rwanda does pull its troops out of DRC, it will continue to profit from the plunder via the rebel government Rally for Congolese Democracy, based in eastern DRC, which Rwanda funds. The peace deal could even accelerate the pillage. Some companies had stopped operating in the region, but they may now be reassured into thinking that returning is acceptable.
In response to last week鈥檚 deal, at least one minerals trader is considering scaling up operations in eastern DRC, New Scientist has learned. 鈥淚t will inspire us to do more [in the region],鈥� says a spokesman, who asked for the company not to be named. But Raeymakers warns that cranking up trading while the country is so unstable can only make the situation worse. 鈥淒RC is evolving into total banditry,鈥� he says.