The Obama administration is pressing American industries to end the use of so-called ‘conflict minerals’ that are fuelling violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. At a meeting at the US State Department last week, officials met with representatives of electronics, automotive and other companies whose products contain tungsten, tin, tantalum and gold. At the meeting they discussed ways to ensure the companies’ products do not contain minerals illicitly mined in the eastern DRC.

“We are working towards the common goal of ending the use of conflict minerals from the DRC,” said Under Secretary of State, Robert Hormats. US officials and rights groups say armed militias in the region are forcing villagers to extract the minerals. They say profits are used to purchase weapons and extend the cycle of violence that has ravaged the region for more than a decade.

The meeting last week was part of a larger effort to help manufacturers avoid using conflict minerals.