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Lubumbashi is the capital of Katanga
province in the south-eastern part of
the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – home
to some of the world’s most
resource-rich land, including copper,
cobalt and coltan (a mineral used in all
cell phones and computers).
Control over these resources was amongst the factors at stake during the conflict that brought bloodshed to the DRC from 1996 to 2003.
This fighting has resulted in the presence of a large amount of small arms and light weapons (SALW) [what are SALW?] hidden or stored in unsafe conditions around the country. In this strategic province maybe even more than everywhere else, this constitutes a risk to the fragile peace process.
There are fears that these weapons could be looted, or otherwise leak out of the control of the authorities, and enter circulation or be sold and illicitly exported to neighbouring countries. See how MAG is responding to this threat as part of its worldwide Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal activities...
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The FARDC (Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo) logistics base: 9,600 weapons belonging to the FARDC logistics base and the 6th military region must be destroyed by MAG. These weapons come mainly from the former Soviet Union and Singapore, but also from China, the former Yugoslavia, Germany, France, Belgium, the United States... |
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MAG personnel, supported by FARDC soldiers, inspect and proceed with the inventory of the stock. |
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All weapons are carefully checked in order to ensure that no bullets
remain inside the chambers. |
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The weapons are then identified and recorded. |
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Early morning. The weapons are loaded into a vehicle and transported to the destruction site. |
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The weapons are offloaded at the destruction site. |
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They are then counted before being cut. |
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Weapons cutting. |
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After only nine days, MAG has already destroyed 4,625 light weapons. The cutting of all 9,600 weapons should take approximately three weeks. |
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The destruction of light weapons significantly contributes to the security of the territory – an initiative welcomed by the highest authorities of the province, including the governor, Moïse Katumbi. |
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Captain Louis Kalamba presents the work by MAG and FARDC to the authorities - including the governor of Katanga, the mayor of Lubumbashi, the general commander of the 6th military region, the general of the central logistics base in Kinshasa, the commandant of the Lubumbashi police, the representative of the Minister of Interior and the representative of MONUC (United Nations Mission in Congo). [Photos: Gwenn Dubourthoumieu / MAG] |
Links:
- Why does MAG work in D.R. Congo?
- MAG DRC microsite - latest news from MAG's work in the country
- More on MAG's Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal activities
- 'Journey through Africa's dark heart' - a MAG DRC slideshow
- Donate to MAG online - more than 90 per cent of MAG's income is spent directly on clearance programmes
- Other ways to Get Involved - shop, run, walk, skydive, drink wine...
- Click on Tags below for related articles
31 July 09
MAG's work in DRC is supported by: Belgian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs; DFID (UK Department for International Development); Dutch
Ministry of Foreign Affairs; UNICEF; Office
of Weapons Removal and Abatement, U.S. Department of State; Sida
(Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency).
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