“The moment is long overdue for the international community to most vigilantly audit industrial supply chains and make sure that global production and consumption honor Congolese resource sovereignty and do not profit out of conflict and human suffering.
History has amply documented the direct relationship between slavery and colonialism in Africa and the industrial revolution in the West.
It is time for the world to recognize the obvious: the resources of the DRC belong to the people of the DRC, and the global demand for these resources must enhance their well-being and not inflict misery on them.
There is a role for concerted multilateral collective action on this matter and we must not waste this opportunity.
Arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi, for the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of States.”
