DRC: The explosive trade in tin ore

A massive increase in demand for tin caused tin prices to rise dramatically in early 2004, and tin ore is now being used by military groups to fund themselves in Eastern parts of the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), according to a new Global Witness report. "There are no international mechanisms in place to regulate this trade, therefore allowing various armed factions, many with appalling human rights records, unfettered access to world markets, in order to generate funds," says the report.