policy-briefing-109-3bdc437ac301414b.pdf

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the political economy of peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), arguing that regional peace agreements are shaped by the shifting economic power between the eastern Kivus and the southern Katanga province.

• The Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement of 10 July 1999 and the subsequent Pretoria Peace Accord of 17 December 2002 were influenced by the economic dominance of the eastern DRC, specifically the Kivus, and the influence of neighboring states like Rwanda and Uganda who supported rebel groups to control Congolese wealth.
• A dramatic surge in coltan prices in 2000, rising from $80/kg in January to $800/kg by December, provided a windfall for the RCD-Goma rebel faction, which established a monopoly on exports and taxed the mineral at $10/kg.
• International pressure and reports on the illegal plunder of natural resources led to a collapse in coltan prices from $2,000/kg in December 2000 to $330/kg in April 2001, as companies like Nokia and Motorola shifted sourcing to Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
• The economic value of the eastern DRC region was estimated at $500 million in 2001, with pillaged resources contributing approximately $280 million, which equaled 80% of the country's military budget.
• Since 2006, the economic center of gravity shifted toward Katanga province due to a new 2004 mining code and increased Chinese demand for copper starting in 2007 and 2008. This growth is exemplified by the Tenke Mining Corporation's $2 billion investment in cobalt reserves.
• The Addis Ababa Framework Agreement (AAFA), signed on 24 February 2013 by 11 African countries, reflects the increased geopolitical influence of SADC states resulting from their economic stakes in Katanga.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). policy-briefing-109-3bdc437ac301414b.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Policy-Briefing-109.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. policy-briefing-109-3bdc437ac301414b.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Policy-Briefing-109.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=policy-briefing-109-3bdc437ac301414b.pdf |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Policy-Briefing-109.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndpolicybriefing1093bdc437ac301414bpdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{policy-briefing-109-3bdc437ac301414b.pdf}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Policy-Briefing-109.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }