a short side trip

so what's happening as we wrap up the this experience in DRC? tomorrow morning, together with my teammate, C, and a local friend/interpreter, i may be boarding a UN helicopter and flying to Wali Kali (about 80 km northwest of Goma - i could be wrong so check a map!) which is at this point only accessible by air. the UN offers free rides to ngo workers assuming there is space - if i'd known that a little earlier might have used them for bunia - but also not sure how closely i want to be associated with UN, but still something to consider! the UN doesn't have a return trip until next tuesday so will be coming back on a local airline on saturday.

what's in Wali Kali? it's the nearest town to the largest mining site in North Kivu. the mine, bisie, is mined for cassiterite which is processed into tin and exported mostly to asia and the middle east. currently, because of global economic collapse, mineral prices are down and there isn't much production going on. however, this is a hot spot - we hope to meet with the two rival artisinal miner cooperatives as well as with the territorial administrator. one coop is backed by a large multinational mining company, the other by another local large company - both with profit as their only interest (from what we've heard so far). we'll be looking at the effect on the local population of both the mining (this is an area that depends on mining for income and is not heavily farmed as in other areas of the province) as well as the effect of the current military operations which may be heading that direction. bisie itself, is controlled by Col. Sammy of the 85th regiment. the 85th is a renegade regiment which was once part of the DRC military but split and is not led by Col. Sammy. it's a highly complex situation (I'm hoping to not meet Col. Sammy) but there is a lot of interest and a lot at stake.

last week we met with the UNDP rep. for North and South Kivu. she told us that mining is one area where the UN is not getting involved (unlike other African countries where she has served where it's been a large part of their work). the difference in DRC she said, was that too many member states have vested interest in minerals here. interesting. there are some excellent reports by two local research institute, pole institute and CREDDHO, on some of these issues.

we will not actually visit bisie as it's a 2 day hike through forest to get there and we do not have time to do that. we've been told by miners, researchers and ngos that bisie has the potential for incredible wealth, likely the richest deposit of cassiterite in the province, yet it's people are the poorest.

clearly, i'll write more after my return.

corruption runs deep in DRC and is visible at all levels. this is one of the biggest hinderances to peaceful change in the region, in my limited view.

personally, i didn't really want to go to wali kali, but neither did my other teammates. i was at least willing in order to make it possible and it could be potentially important research. however, my teammate, c, has really been getting to me lately (as the group of 4 tries to create a report and proposal for our leadership, with little agreement on what to say) and i frankly could use a break, as opposed to an intensive 3 day trip. alas, reality is what it is and luckly, being female i can at least be guaranteed my own room to retreat to for the sake of my sanity. please send good thoughts my way as i try to maintain my cool in this regard. i can be pushed pretty far, but to a point and that point is getting near.

with that i will sign off for today (apologies to those of you who like capitals, etc. i just don't feel inclined to follow any rules today).

cheers,
a.