The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the world’s richest country in natural resources, with untapped mineral deposits estimated at a staggering U.S. $24 trillion. Among these, over 70% of the world’s coltan and cobalt are from the DRC, which are used for vital components in phones, devices, and the ‘green’ car economy - which is expected to grow fourfold in 2030.
This wealth, however, is a double-edged sword. Ongoing conflicts, fueled by foreign-backed militia groups, are perpetuated by the insatiable global demand for these resources. Millions of Congolese are displaced and forced into perilous mining conditions, highlighting the grim repercussions of a world driven by the desire to exploit the Congo’s abundance. The pursuit of these resources not only sustains the conflict but reveals a darker side to the global consumption that exacerbates the suffering of the Congolese people.
The systematic exploitation of both black bodies and resources has historically served to amass significant wealth, contributing to the growth of national and global economies. This exploitation, driven by racism, white supremacy, and the dominance of institutional white power structures, played a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of the modern capitalist system. This enduring exploitation has perpetuated disparities across economic, educational, social, and political realms for centuries.
The international community's inadequate response to the atrocities being committed in the Congo reflects the pervasive impact of global structures rooted in racism and anti-blackness. This is one of the reasons why Ukraine and Palestine have been getting more attention and care from the international community.
This lack of attention and focus hinders meaningful advocate and intervention, prolonging the suffering of the Congolese people while everyone turns a blind eye to it.
The M23 rebels derived their name from a peace agreement signed with the Congolese government on March 23, 2009, during their affiliation with the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP). Following this agreement, many CNDP fighters were integrated into the Congolese army (FARDC).
In late March 2012, General Bosco “The Terminator” Ntaganda and approximately 300 Congolese soldiers opted to depart from the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), choosing instead to join the M23 rebellion, which receives support from Rwanda. Rwanda's interest in eastern Congo is rooted in economic and political motives, marked by a history of military intervention in the region.
The resurgence of hostilities involving the M23, the Congolese army, and various armed groups has led to the displacement of approximately one million people since March 2022.
Amid the conflict, survivors have shared distressing accounts of M23 fighters committing sexual violence, intensifying the trauma for victims and disrupting the social fabric of communities and families. Reported incidents include M23 fighters raping women in the presence of their children and husbands, exacerbating the suffering endured by victims.
A 46-year-old mother of six, who fled Mushaki in Masisi territory on February 25 with her 75-year-old mother, ran into a group of 10 M23 rebels, who took their money. “They wanted to rape us,” she said. “My mother said no, so they shot a bullet into her chest, and she died on the spot. Then four of them raped me. As they were raping me, one said: ‘We’ve come from Rwanda to destroy you.’”
As many as 10 million people are estimated to have died in Congo from killings, famine and disease between 1885 and 1908 after Belgian's King Leopold II declared the vast territory his personal property. Leopold’s exploitative reign is seen by many historians as one of the most brutal in the history of European colonialism, with millions of Congolese killed and maimed during his rule.
Under the mantle of propagating Christianity and trade in Africa, Belgium exploited Congo's riches, including rubber. Severed hands became the infamous symbol of the colonial state where officials brutally maimed those failing to deliver harvest quotas. Forced labour, corporal punishments, kidnapping, and slaughtering of rebellious villages were among other atrocities recorded during the period.
King Leopold has left Congo a very bad legacy – a lasting legacy of authoritarianism [and of] a predatory state that is there for itself and the people. Rulers think they control the country, that they can do anything they want to do and do not care about the people; one of the major problem affecting the country.
While the world aims for ‘green’ and sustainable solutions, the process of doing so is at the expense of environmental degradation for the Congolese people. The quest for ‘clean’ energy intensifies the exploitation of Congo's land and resources, particularly valuable minerals like cobalt. Mining activities, often conducted without regard for environmental sustainability, contribute to deforestation, soil degradation, and water pollution.