The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently facing a humanitarian crisis as miners are forced to work under exploitative conditions which amounts to modern-day slavery. The mining industry, because of its high demand, is host to various human rights violations including child labour.
On 20 December 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will head to the polls for a general election. These elections have caused worries that the current insecurity in the region will lead to increased violence for citizens. At the heart of this persistent insecurity issue is cobalt.
Just as Nigeria has oil and South Africa has diamonds, the DRC has cobalt. African countries with extensive reserves of precious raw materials often find themselves prey to irresponsible leadership and the greed of Western powers. The DRC, with the largest reserve of cobalt in the world, is no exception. As of October 2023, 6.9 million Congolese people have been displaced due to violence and rebel attacks, which are directly linked to the quest for cobalt. Mining in the DRC has particularly gained attention, albeit insufficient, due to its association with grave human rights abuses and exploitation along with the fierce international competition that leeches off it...
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