New York, Aug 22 2011 2:10PM
The United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) said today it is fully cooperating
with the authorities there who are investigating an attempt by a local UN employee to smuggle about one ton of
cassiterite ore from the country to neighbouring Rwanda.
Congolese authorities yesterday thwarted the alleged attempt by a member of staff of the UN Stabilization Mission in DRC
(MONUSCO) to smuggle the consignment of cassiterite ore when they stopped a UN vehicle at the border crossing in the DRC
town of Goma, before it proceeded into Gisenyi in Rwanda.
“MONUSCO is fully cooperating with and supporting the national authorities in the investigation of this incident. The
mission has also launched its own investigation into what appears to be a serious breach of its ethics, rules and
regulations,” the mission said in a press release.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for DRC and head of MONUSCO, Roger Meece, stressed that the illegal
exploitation and smuggling of natural resources from the DRC are serious crimes and the mission is tasked with
preventing them.
He said that allegations that a MONUSCO member of staff is implicated in the illegal activities will be fully
investigated and that appropriate action taken in full cooperation with the Congolese authorities.
Illegal exploitation of minerals in eastern DRC has been widely blamed for prolonging conflict and insecurity in
Africa’s Great Lakes region.
ENDS