Topic: Reducing Violence Associated with Conflict Minerals
Country: Cuba
Delegate Name: Aaron Guimond
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Cuba position papers GLIMUN 2011 committees
The main transit of most conflict minerals in West and Central Africa generate from Rwanda. Rebel groups like FDLR and CNDP organize these minerals then ship them all across the world. In 2008 due to increase exports in tungsten, cassisterite, and coltan Rwanda's minings sector increased by a rate of 20%. One group that is responsible for Rwanda's control over the Congo is the Clinton administration who allowed Rwanda and Uganda to invade the Congo. UN involvement should help put more pressure on Congo leaders Kegame and Museveni who are two leaders in the congo that have done nothing to help with Rwanda's involvement since 1996.
Cuba has over the years been unable to influence or establish peace in the Congo. Che Guevara an influential leader who is responsible for the Cuban revolution tried to influence Congo but was unsuccessful. Cuba can take part in combining with other African countries like Angola and Namibia to remove Rwandan leaders from taking advantage of Congo's minerals. Once Rwanda has moved out of the Congo Cuba can take part in educating , with help from other countries, the people in Congo so that they are able to establish a government that is unable to be overthrown. UN nations can decrease activity in Congo by directly locating where all diamonds, cobalt, etc… generates from. Also Cuba along with UN officials must investigate and punish the FDLR for their overthrowing of Congo's government and for their rape of their minerals.
