Concern over Jersey's relationship with Rwanda due to conflict
Deputy Hilary Jeune, one of the politicians who has expressed concerns about the relationship, said: "Now that we are seeing hostilities continuing within the DR Congo... I think there does need to be some reflection on that relationship going forward."Rwanda used to deny backing the M23, but recently it has adopted a more defensive line, saying fighting near the border between DR Congo and Rwanda is a threat to its security.
DR Congo accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits in the east of the country, which Rwanda denies.Jeune said she was concerned some mining companies operating in the DR Congo could have their headquarters and financial structures in Jersey and may unintentionally be contributing to the problem of conflict minerals."My concern is how much the finance industry here in Jersey is unintentionally supporting the conflict mineral trade," she said.
Firms not sanctioned
External Relations Minister Deputy Ian Gorst told the International and Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel there were mining companies operating in DR Congo with headquarters or financial structures in Jersey."There are no international sanctions in place on any of these companies operating mining ventures in the DR Congo connected to Jersey," he said."If the UK did look at sanction designations, then we would follow."If these Jersey headquartered structures or mining companies are operating in an illegal manner, they would be breaching their obligations in Jersey under Jersey law and they would be dealt with appropriately by the Attorney General."
'Rigorous checks'
Emily Stewart, the head of policy for the transition minerals campaign at NGO Global Witness, said: "Quite a lot of the mining done under the control of these militias is done under the worst conditions using slave labour [and] child labour. "It's really incumbent on mining companies operating in the country that they are doing really rigorous checks themselves to ensure their supply chains aren't tainted by these mines, which are supporting conflict."
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