The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Uganda" ...
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Guns, Money and Cell Phones
The Industry Standard reports that the demand for an ore called columbite-tantalite -- or coltan -- is helping to fuel the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. When refined, coltan becomes tantalum, a highly heat-resistant metal powder that is a key component in everything from mobile phones to computer chips and VCR's. As the demand for these products has increased, "a new, more sinister market began flourishing in the ...Congo. There, warring groups - many funded and supplied by neighboring Rwanda and Uganda - are exploiting coltan mining to help finance a bloody civil war now in its third year." Although selling coltan is not illegal, a United Nations report in April suggested that thousands of tons of coltan had been smuggled from the Congo into Rwanda and Uganda, and may have eventually made it to the U.S. companies that use the material. For their part, these companies have no way of knowing whether the tantalum they use is helping to finance the civil war. Another side effect of the coltan trade: mining activity is especially big in the mountainous northeastern region of the Congo, where endangered gorillas live.
Tags: Democratic Republic of Congo; cellular phones; Nokia; Sony; Intel; AVX; Cabot; H.C. Starck; Kemet; Columbite-tantalite; coltan; civil war; Uganda; Rwanda; tantalum capacitors; Sogem; mountain gorillas
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Forsaken
An attempt to explain the fighting in Africa. The Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, has seen little political stability since independence in Belgium, serving more as an "all-purpose African battleground" for different interests of Africa rather than a struggle by its people. Current Congo President Kabila came to power backed by an army from Rwanda and Uganda and 10 other African nations, largely as payback for former President Mobutu support of the Power Hutus (in Rwanda) which resulted in 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis AND moderate Hutus. Mobutu's ties with Rwanda spawned resentment from Congo natives. The climate was right for Kabila to seize power. Yet in 1998, Kabila transfers his allegiance to his former enemies, the Power Hutus, and Rwanda retaliates and other nations join the fray.