2008

On 4 March the Belgian research group IPIS will present the results of its new study on the conflict motivations of the different warring parties in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fatal Transactions took part in a Round Table on Natural Resources & Conflict in New York, February 20th in the German House. The Roundtable was organised by Global Witness and the Heinrich Boel Foundation.

The Congolese government’s ‘fast track solution’ to its mining contract review may turn out to be a false trail unless it addresses civil society concerns, warns a coalition of Congolese and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today.

Fatal Transactions has signed a press releas in which NGO's express their concern about how the contract reviews in the Democratic republic of Congo are being hijacked. The NGO's call on authorities in Europe and North America to act and publicly support an open and transparent process of negotiation.

In 2008 IKV Pax Christi, NiZA and Oxfam Novib will focus on the role of China. The influence of the Asian countries is increasing rapidly.

The Dutch government has made a commitment to contribute 19 million euro to the United Nations in light of the peace agreement currently under way between the Congolese government and rebel groups.

This report is the first in a series of quarterly updates following the initial report of June 2007 “Mapping Interests in Conflict Areas: Katanga”.

On invitation of BICC/ Fatal Transactions Germany,Mr. Markus Wagner, Section Head of the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources will present the certification scheme that BGR is currently developing for Mineral Production in the Great Lakes Region.

Fatal Transactions has been nominated as action of the year by the Dutch Oneworld international network.