In the testimony, we heard about mass graves, mass killings and millions dead. One of you gentlemen said that the DRC is blessed with natural resources, but it also seems to be a misfortune.
Professor Kapenda, you referenced blood metals. I think you said coltan. In 2009-10, I had contacted Blackberry, because that was a metal they were using in their devices. Canada clearly is looking for ways to help the DRC, but most Canadians don't realize we've contributed to the horrors. This information has been available for over a decade, yet in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last year, Blackberry agreed in a compulsory disclosure that they continued to use conflict minerals, a portion of which may have originated in the DRC, and listed it as “necessary conflict minerals”. In many cases they have unknown origin.
Professor Kapenda, you referenced coltan. Canadian industry and businesses are implicated. As a Canadian from the Congo, would you like to comment on this topic?