Progress at conflict-free tin mine featured in National Geographic

The iTSCi and CFTI mine in Nyabibwe, South Kivu is featured in the October 2013 edition of National Geographic magazine as an example of positive action against conflict minerals. The site, the original pilot area of the iTSCi Programme in 2010, is reported to be part of the ‘first green shoots of a reformed mining trade’ beginning to emerge for the tin, tantalum, and tungsten sector in the DRC. The article notes how the Government has helped clean up rogue soldiers and sent in newly trained mining police to monitor sites, and, although some reports suggested that military-led smuggling may still be going on at the mine, the authors confirmed that ‘when we were there, in January of this year, we didn’t see any soldiers, militiamen, or child laborers. The record books looked pretty clean. Nyabibwe seemed like progress.’ The article mentions the unfortunate limitation in number of mines covered by the system which is a result of a roadblock on expansion of the iTSCi Programme by lack of financing for new high risk areas, and draws an interesting comparison between progress at Nyabibwe in the tin sector with the circumstances the reporter found in gold mines which remain largely in army or rebel hands.The full article and photos can be found here