The EU says it is concerned about “blood minerals” making their way to Europe. It has joined the US in targeting minerals from conflict zones like the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The EU trade commissioner for trade, Karel de Gucht, said European economies need conflict-free mobile handsets. “I know the Congo quite well. I have been there and often met with President Kabila,” said Karel de Gucht, a former Belgian foreign Minister.
In 2008, de Gucht threatened to withdraw aid to DRC if President Joseph Kabila didn’t address issues of governance. This led to a diplomatic crisis between the DRC and its former colonial power Belgium.
President Kabila declared him a ‘persona non grata’. Since then, de Gucht no longer enjoys the good relations with Kinshasa that enabled him to secure mining licenses for prospective clients.
His opinion of President Kabila has not changed. And in his capacity as the EU trade commissioner, Karel De Gucht, hasn’t been allowed to enter the DRC since 2010.
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