Blood Cobalt: How DRC's Mineral Wealth Fuels Endless Conflict

The Cobalt Connection

The Democratic Republic of Congo produces 70% of the world’s cobalt, essential for electric vehicle batteries and smartphones. Yet this mineral wealth has become a curse, funding armed groups and perpetuating violence in the eastern provinces.

Mining Under the Gun

Control Dynamics

Armed groups control or tax an estimated:

• 40% of cobalt mining sites
• 60% of gold mines
• 80% of coltan operations
• $1 billion annual illegal mineral trade

Human Cost

• 40,000 children in mines
• 2 million artisanal miners
• 72-hour shifts common
• 180 deaths monthly (estimated)

Supply Chain Complexity

From Mine to Market

1. Extraction: Artisanal miners, often at gunpoint
2. Trading posts: Controlled by militias
3. Smuggling routes: Through Rwanda, Uganda
4. Refinement: Mainly in China
5. Manufacturing: Global tech companies

Corporate Responses

Major tech companies claim “conflict-free” sourcing but:

• Certification systems easily circumvented
• Minerals laundered through neighboring countries
• Limited on-ground verification
• Complex multi-tier supply chains

“Every smartphone contains a piece of Congo’s suffering” - Local human rights activist

Armed Groups Profiting

Major Players

• M23: Controls northern mining areas
• FDLR: Taxes gold mines
• Mai-Mai groups: Local militia taxation
• FARDC units: Illegal mining by army

Revenue Streams

• Direct mining control
• Taxation at checkpoints
• Protection rackets
• Mineral smuggling

International Dimensions

China’s Role

• 80% of cobalt processing capacity
• Major mining concessions
• Limited oversight of sources
• Strategic mineral stockpiling

Western Dilemma

• Green transition needs cobalt
• Ethical sourcing challenges
• Alternative sources limited
• Recycling insufficient

Reform Attempts

Failed Initiatives

1. Dodd-Frank Act (2010): Limited impact
2. OECD guidelines: Voluntary compliance
3. Certification schemes: Easily corrupted
4. Blockchain tracking: Not yet scaled

Current Proposals

• Mandatory supply chain audits
• Direct purchasing from communities
• Investment in formal mining
• Regional certification body

The Path Forward

Breaking the conflict-mineral cycle requires:

1. Formalization of artisanal mining
2. Community ownership models
3. Transparent supply chains
4. Alternative livelihoods
5. Regional cooperation

Without addressing the mineral dimension, peace in eastern DRC remains elusive. The world’s hunger for cobalt continues to fuel a conflict that has claimed millions of lives over decades.