Scientists and researchers from across North America and Africa will be coming together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the African Great Lakes.

A series of recent reports has revealed a new complexity to the familiar topic of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s “conflict minerals.” Clare Church explores how the trade now not only proliferates outsides of the mobile phone industry, but also outside of the country itself.

In the IISD Commentary, Alec Crawford notes that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to one of the world's worst ongoing conflicts. For the residents of eastern DRC, caught in this conflict, the only change being seen is the change from a bad situation to one that is worse. Despair, not hope, is becoming further entrenched. And the environment is suffering.