DR Congo accuses Rwanda of illegally exploiting its mineral deposits in the east of the country, which Rwanda denies.

Jeune said she was concerned some mining companies operating in the DR Congo could have their headquarters and financial structures in Jersey and may unintentionally be contributing to the problem of conflict minerals.

"My concern is how much the finance industry here in Jersey is unintentionally supporting the conflict mineral trade," she said.

External Relations Minister Deputy Ian Gorst told the International and Economic Affairs Scrutiny Panel there were mining companies operating in DR Congo with headquarters or financial structures in Jersey.

"There are no international sanctions in place on any of these companies operating mining ventures in the DR Congo connected to Jersey," he said.

"If the UK did look at sanction designations, then we would follow.

"If these Jersey headquartered structures or mining companies are operating in an illegal manner, they would be breaching their obligations in Jersey under Jersey law and they would be dealt with appropriately by the Attorney General."

Emily Stewart, the head of policy for the transition minerals campaign at NGO Global Witness, said: "Quite a lot of the mining done under the control of these militias is done under the worst conditions using slave labour [and] child labour.

"It's really incumbent on mining companies operating in the country that they are doing really rigorous checks themselves to ensure their supply chains aren't tainted by these mines, which are supporting conflict."