Concern over Jersey's relationship with Rwanda

Jersey politicians have raised concerns over the island's relationship with Rwanda due to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jersey signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda in 2016 which aimed to strengthen relationships between the two countries.

The seizure by M23 rebels of vast tracts of land in the mineral rich east of DR Congo has triggered a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis involving several neighbouring countries.

The UK has suspended bilateral aid and imposed other diplomatic sanctions on Rwanda for its support of the M23 rebels. The BBC has contacted the Rwandan High Commission in London for comment.

Deputy Hilary Jeune, one of the politicians who has expressed concerns about the relationship, said: "Now that we are seeing hostilities continuing within the DR Congo... I think there does need to be some reflection on that relationship going forward."

Rwanda used to deny backing the M23, but recently it has adopted a more defensive line, saying fighting near the border between DR Congo and Rwanda is a threat to its security.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits in the east of the country, which Rwanda denies.

Jeune said she was concerned some mining companies operating in the DR Congo could have their headquarters and financial structures in Jersey and may unintentionally be contributing to the problem of conflict minerals.

"My concern is how much the finance industry here in Jersey is unintentionally supporting the conflict mineral trade," she said.

External Relations Minister Deputy Ian Gorst told the International and Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel there were mining companies operating in DR Congo with headquarters or financial structures in Jersey.

"There are no international sanctions in place on any of these companies operating mining ventures in the DR Congo connected to Jersey," he said.

"If the UK did look at sanction designations, then we would follow.

"If these Jersey headquartered structures or mining companies are operating in an illegal manner, they would be breaching their obligations in Jersey under Jersey law and they would be dealt with appropriately by the Attorney General."

Emily Stewart, the head of policy for the transition minerals campaign at NGO Global Witness, said: "Quite a lot of the mining done under the control of these militias is done under the worst conditions using slave labour [and] child labour.

"It's really incumbent on mining companies operating in the country that they are doing really rigorous checks themselves to ensure their supply chains aren't tainted by these mines, which are supporting conflict."

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