Efforts to end trade in conflict minerals advanced last week when 11 African countries endorsed an OECD system for the responsible sourcing of minerals. Mining ministers from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) agreed 30 September 2010 to forward the OECD’s guidance to heads of state slated to participate in a regional summit in the Democratic Republic of Congo next month. The OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chain Management of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas also won strong support from private sector and civil society participants in the recent meeting...Illegal exploitation of natural resources in fragile African states has been fueling conflict across the region for a decade. Exploited minerals include diamonds, gold and tin, as well as those commonly found in electronic equipment such as cassiterite..., coltan...and wolframite...