The Oheneba Poku Foundation (OPF) has expressed its deep concern regarding the escalating armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its devastating impact on the region, its people, and the responsible sourcing of critical minerals.

OPF, committed to promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices that prioritize human rights, environmental protection, and ethical sourcing, is actively engaged with the Africa Mineral Strategic Group (AMSG) in implementing the African Responsible Mineral Sourcing Initiatives (ARMSi).

The DRC is a vital source of essential minerals like cobalt, copper, and tantalum, which are crucial for renewable energy technologies, electronics, and numerous other industries.

However, the ongoing conflict jeopardizes progress made in establishing responsible sourcing frameworks. The violence fuels severe human rights abuses, increases illegal mining activities, disrupts local communities' livelihoods, and poses significant challenges for organizations dedicated to ethical supply chains.

"The conflict in the DRC is a grave concern, not only for the humanitarian crisis it creates but also for the future of responsible mineral sourcing," said Fred Kyei Sapong, CEO of OPF. "Years of work towards transparency, traceability, and ethical practices, through initiatives like ARMSi, are being undermined. We cannot allow these gains to be lost."

OPF, through its collaboration with the AMSG and its active role in ARMSi, has been working to promote transparency, traceability, and ethical practices across Africa's mineral supply chains. The current conflict directly contradicts these efforts and threatens to reverse the progress made towards sustainable and conflict-free mineral sourcing.

“We call on all parties involved in the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve their differences. The continuation of violence not only perpetuates immense suffering but also undermines global efforts to ensure that minerals are sourced responsibly and sustainably. Armed conflict fosters exploitation, erodes transparency, and risks contaminating the supply chain with minerals that fund violence and human rights violations,” said a statement by OPF.

The Foundation also entreated stakeholders, including governments, industry partners, civil society organizations, and the international community, to collectively take action to support peacebuilding and stability in the DRC.

“The OPF reaffirms its commitment to responsible sourcing practices and will continue to work with our partners to ensure that our supply chains are free from conflict minerals. We will strengthen our due diligence measures and support initiatives that promote transparency, traceability, and ethical mining practices in the region.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of the DRC and emphasize the urgent need for peace, stability, and sustainable development. The OPF believes that only through collaboration and a shared commitment to ethical practices can we ensure that the minerals essential to our modern world are sourced in a manner that respects human dignity, protects the environment, and fosters the prosperity of local communities,” the statement concluded.