Editor,

It was great to hear that Rwanda’s minerals can now trade in the international markets after the official recognition.  I was worried about a de facto boycott of tin, gold, tungsten or coltan coming from the region including our country.

This essentially means that we have met the international law passed by the United States, requiring that companies who buy cassiterite, wolframtie, coltan and gold from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and nine adjoining countries must certify that their purchases don’t support armed groups in the region.

The certification process must be supported because like regional analysts said recently, illicit trading of tin ore and other minerals has largely sustained the FDLR terrorist group still holed up in Eastern Congo.

Maureen Agaba
Kigali