Editor, The move to hand over to the Democratic Republic of the Congo minerals seized as they were being smuggled through Rwanda, demonstrates the cordial relations existing between the two countries. Smuggling severely harms the economy of a country in multidimensional ways. It undermines the local industry, discourages legal import and exports and reduces the revenues collected from duties and levies. By smuggling untagged minerals, our country takes a beating as this not only besmirches the hard built image but also shreds our economy to ruins. The fact that the government is open and transparent in everything we do, indicates willingness to promote peace and stability in the region. The mineral rich Eastern part of DRC is a well known conflict zone with rebel groups like Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) exploiting its mineral wealth to fund its criminal wars. Let us not forget that illegal trade affects both countries. For that reason, the DRC government should effectively collaborate with Rwanda to beef up patrols along the common border to minimise the vice. Vincent Kainamura Gisenyi
