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The report analyzes the systemic nature of corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2003 to 2006, arguing that the 'kleptocratic' legacy of the Mobutu era persisted through the transition. It details how power-sharing agreements under the Sun City Accord prioritized political clientelism over merit, leading to widespread pillaging of public finances, state-owned enterprises, and the mining and forestry sectors. Despite the introduction of new anti-corruption laws and the creation of monitoring bodies like the CELC and OCEP, the report finds these efforts largely failed due to a lack of political will, institutional dysfunction, and the complicity of international partners who prioritized electoral stability over good governance.

The document examines the persistence of a 'predatory political and governance culture' in the DRC, tracing it from the colonial era and Mobutu's dictatorship through the 2003–2006 transition. It finds that power-sharing arrangements under the Sun City Agreement effectively removed checks and balances, enabling widespread looting of state assets, mining resources, and public funds. Despite the introduction of new anti-corruption laws and the creation of bodies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (CELC), these efforts failed due to a lack of political will, institutional dysfunction, and a reliance on donor-driven initiatives without local ownership.

The MMSD North America project, implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the University of Nevada, developed a framework to transition the mining and minerals industry toward sustainability. The project produced several reports, including a set of 10 recommendations covering legacy issues, practical conditions, and long-term capacity building. It also introduced a 'Seven Questions' framework to assess the overall contribution of mining activities to long-term sustainable development.

Civil society organisations are urging the South African government to release a suppressed report by a Team of Experts (TOE) regarding acid mine drainage. They argue that the continued non-disclosure of this report undermines transparency and prevents the public from assessing the urgency of pollution affecting the Vaal and Crocodile River systems.

The report finds that both public and private bodies in South Africa frequently fail to provide basic environmental information, often using PAIA as a tool to avoid transparency. While provincial and municipal bodies performed better, national departments—particularly the Department of Mineral Resources—demonstrated a culture of secrecy and non-compliance. The report recommends expanding voluntary disclosure and establishing an Information Commissioner to reduce the reliance on expensive court proceedings.

Global Witness asserts that its investigation into Dan Gertler's use of a suspected international money laundering network to evade US sanctions is based on rigorous evidence. The organization reports that prior to and following publication, it and its partner, the Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), faced intimidation tactics, including a criminal complaint filed by Afriland First Bank in Paris and coordinated social media smear campaigns. Global Witness maintains that these actions are intended to protect the status quo of the DRC mining sector and calls on Congolese, US, and EU authorities to investigate the findings.

The document analyzes the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework's 'digital tax project,' arguing that while framed around digitalization, its Pillars One and Two have significant implications for the extractive industries. It highlights that while the mining sector is excluded from the new taxing rights of Pillar One's 'Amount A,' it remains vulnerable to 'Amount B's' fixed returns on marketing and the potential for Pillar Two's global minimum tax to divert revenues from resource-rich developing nations to the home countries of multinational corporations.

The briefing describes the 'water-energy-food (WEF) nexus'—defined by quality, quantity, and sustainable access—and how mining operations can threaten these securities through water pollution, land competition, and energy demands. IISD proposes a framework combining participatory approaches, hydrological modelling, and the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework to identify key indicators for monitoring WEF security. This approach is currently being applied to the Maripaston Gold Mine project in Suriname to safeguard the livelihoods of indigenous and maroon communities.

The notes detail the implementation of UN Resolution 1493, which strengthened MONUC's mandate in the DRC. Key discussions include the role of the International Committee to Accompany the Transition (CIAT), South Africa's Third Party Verification Mechanism (TPVM), and the challenges of transitioning from a war economy to a regulated state. The text also addresses the need for regional stability in the Great Lakes Region, the importance of Radio Okapi for national unification, and the complexities of holding democratic elections while managing a centralized power structure in Kinshasa.

The document serves as a resource directory for communities affected by extractive industries. It categorizes tools for seeking corporate accountability, assessing human rights and the rule of law, negotiating community development agreements, and understanding the global political economy of trade, investment, and resource extraction.

The report examines the South African mining industry's decline, highlighted by the Marikana shootings, and argues that structural issues—including regulatory uncertainty, failing social and labour plans, and 'narrow' BEE policies—undermine investor confidence and social stability. It proposes adopting the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, replacing Social and Labour Plans with Community Development Agreements, and reforming BEE to benefit workers and communities rather than a small elite. The author warns that the ANC's proposed 'strategic nationalisation' of minerals like platinum and coal, as suggested in the SIMS report, could further jeopardise economic growth and exacerbate social conflict.

The report by Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) examines the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), highlighting a lack of transparency regarding its CA$3.77m in investments and the absence of an ethical investment policy. SGR identifies financial links between CIM and fossil fuel firms Syncrude and Teck Resources, noting that Teck served as a 'Gold sponsor' for CIM's 2021 Convention with a donation of CA$20,000-30,000. While CIM partners with the Mining Association of Canada on the 'Towards Sustainable Mining' standard, SGR argues that CIM's ties to companies not aligned with 1.5C warming limits undermine its stated goal of 'Collaborating towards a sustainable future'.