Tracking and managing conflict risks associated with extractive industries, environmental and social impact assessment: Case study from the D R Congo

The D R Congo is a vast country of 2,345, 509 km2, almost 100 million inhabitants. It is the second biggest country of Africa with 9 neighbouring countries. These are in the Eastern part Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania; in the North South Sudan and the Central African Republic; in the West the Republic of Congo, and finally Zambia and Angola in the South. The D R Congo is claimed to be a natural scandal for impressive natural resources such tropical rainforest of about 155 million hectares representing 50% of African forests, the second biggest River of the World after Amazon, with a huge potential of hydroelectric power. The soil is fertile with 80 million ha of arable soil and rich in minerals. Recent investigations have revealed huge reserve of oil and natural gases.