Cobalt mining in DR Congo

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), often called Congo-Kinshasa to distinguish it from the neighbouring Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), is a vast and resource-rich country in Central Africa. It is the second-largest country in Africa by area and the fourth-most populous, with over 100 million people. The DRC is renowned for its immense natural wealth, including vast mineral deposits, the world's second-largest rainforest, and significant biodiversity centred around the Congo River basin.

DR Congo: Key Facts

• Capital: Kinshasa
• Largest city: Kinshasa (population: 17 million)
• Population: 112.8 million (2025)
• Official language: French
• GDP (ppp): 201 billion (IMF 2025)
• GDP rank (ppp): 79
• GDP per capita (ppp): 1,884 USD
• GDP per capita rank: 180
• Export partners: China 69%, UAE 7%, India 3%, Spain 3%, Egypt 3% (2023)
• Import partners: China 35%, Zambia 12%, South Africa 12%, India 5%, Belgium 4% (2023)

Brief History

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a complex and often tragic history. In the late 19th century, it was colonized by Belgium's King Leopold II, who claimed the territory as his personal property, naming it the Congo Free State. During his rule, the Congolese people were subjected to brutal forced labour and widespread violence, particularly in the rubber industry. Millions died from brutality, starvation, and disease during the period commonly referred to as the Rubber Terror. International outrage forced the Belgian government to annex the colony in 1908, renaming it the Belgian Congo.

After gaining independence in 1960, the country faced immediate political turmoil. Patrice Lumumba, its first democratically elected Prime Minister, was assassinated in 1961 with the involvement of Belgian and US authorities, plunging the country into instability. In 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko seized power and ruled as an authoritarian dictator for over three decades, renaming the country Zaire. His kleptocratic regime was marked by systemic corruption and severe economic decline.

The late 20th and early 21st centuries were dominated by the First and Second Congo Wars (1996–2003), often termed "Africa's World War" due to the involvement of multiple nations. These conflicts devastated the country, leading to millions of deaths from violence, displacement, and disease. Despite formal peace agreements, armed conflict persists in the eastern regions, fuelled by competition over valuable minerals and deep-seated political grievances.

DRC as an LDC Country

The United Nations classifies the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a Least Developed Country (LDC), a status reflecting its profound economic challenges, including widespread poverty and inadequate infrastructure. Despite its vast natural resources, the country's development has been systematically undermined by a long and violent history of resource extraction. This predatory pattern was established during brutal colonial rule and has been perpetuated through decades of political instability, kleptocratic governance, and devastating conflicts fueled by the country's mineral wealth. The economy's heavy reliance on extractive industries has exposed it to volatile commodity prices while failing to improve living standards for its population. As an LDC, the DRC is eligible for international support aimed at fostering economic diversification and poverty reduction..

Cobalt Mining in DRC Congo

Cobalt mining in the DRC is critical to the global economy, as the country possesses over half of the world's known reserves and currently supplies over 70% of the global market. The metal is an essential component in lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, and laptops. The mining sector is a cornerstone of the national economy, providing employment and government revenue.

A significant portion of Congolese cobalt is extracted through two distinct methods: large-scale industrial mining (LSM) run by multinational corporations and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Both face serious challenges. Industrial mines are subject to government regulation, but reports of unsafe working conditions and human rights abuses persist. ASM, which involves millions of individuals digging for cobalt with rudimentary tools, operates largely in an informal and unregulated environment. This leads to extreme risks, including frequent tunnel collapses, hazardous environmental exposure, and the pervasive use of child labour.

The future of cobalt mining in the DRC is poised for explosive growth as the global transition to clean energy and digital technology accelerates demand. This expansion is expected to boost production and infrastructure development, particularly in the southern "Copperbelt" provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba. However, without significant reforms in governance, labour rights, and environmental protection, this growth risks deepening the exploitation of the millions of Congolese who depend on the sector for their survival.

Travel and Visa Restrictions for Congolese Citizens

The DRC’s weak passport and the stringent visa requirements imposed on its citizens severely limit their global mobility. Holding one of the weakest passports in the world, Congolese individuals face significant barriers to travel, education, and work opportunities abroad. This systemic constraint reinforces global power imbalances and restricts personal and economic freedom. This immobility effectively traps many in a cycle of poverty and exploitation, as they are unable to access international labour markets or escape precarious local conditions. The weak passport is a tangible symbol of the DRC's geopolitical marginalization, underscoring how global systems of access and exclusion perpetuate inequality.

Video

Insights into the exploitation of cobalt miners in DR Congo [16m 55s]

The unregulated and dangerous artisanal mines are the primary source of cobalt. In DR Congo, miners, including children, work in perilous conditions for unfair wages, often having to pay bribes to access mining sites.

Discussion

1. The Paradox: The DRC has immense mineral wealth yet remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Discuss the key factors (historical, political, and economic) that contribute to this paradox. Why hasn't this wealth translated into development for its citizens?

2. Global Supply Chains and Consumer Responsibility: The cobalt mined in the DRC is likely in the device you are using to read this. What is the responsibility of multinational tech and automotive companies in ensuring their supply chains are free from human rights abuses? What, if any, responsibility do consumers have?

3. Foreign Influence: The text mentions the historical involvement of Belgium and the US, as well as the current dominance of China as a trade partner. Discuss the role of foreign powers in shaping the DRC's political and economic landscape, both past and present. How does this influence the extraction of raw materials?

4. Mobility and Inequality: Discuss the connection made in the text between a "weak passport" and economic exploitation. How does the inability to travel freely contribute to the cycle of poverty and vulnerability for people in countries like the DRC?

Critical Thinking

1. Industrial Mining: Examine the assumption that large-scale industrial mining is inherently more beneficial for the DRC than artisanal mining. Identify what is being taken for granted in this framing and analyze whether state regulation and corporate involvement genuinely translate into safer conditions, better governance, or fairer distribution of wealth.

Further Investigation

1. Potential for Change: Research potential solutions to improve the situation for artisanal miners. Consider the roles of the DRC government, international organizations, and technological solutions like blockchain for tracking mineral provenance. What are the main obstacles to implementing these solutions?

2. Cobalt-Free Alternatives: The text establishes a clear supply chain where the DRC’s cobalt is essential for lithium-ion batteries. However, with the growing adoption of cobalt-free alternatives such as lithium iron phosphate batteries, this dependency is shifting. Investigate the likely consequences of this shift on the future of cobalt mining in Congo, as well as Congo itself.

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