Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is witnessing an intensifying conflict, forcing thousands to flee amidst the violence between Congolese forces and the M23 armed group. Reports indicate that M23 fighters have encircled the strategic town of Sake, a pivotal point enroute to Goma, the capital of North Kivu. The capture of Sake would significantly disrupt logistical support for the Congolese army.
Justin Musau, a displaced resident from Sake, shared his harrowing experience with Al Jazeera: “The situation in Sake is very bad with heavy fighting between soldiers and M23 rebels. They have attacked with heavy guns and bombs fell on the city … this is why we are leaving for Goma.”
The resurgence of M23, which initiated a major offensive in 2022, led to military and diplomatic interventions by East African leaders. Despite a 2023 ceasefire, violations have been rampant.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, rich in cobalt reserves crucial for lithium-ion batteries, finds itself in the midst of a geopolitical struggle. The country holds the largest supply of this vital metal, accounting for approximately half of global reserves. This abundance, however, has made the region a target for exploitation by various factions, including the M23. Allegedly supported by the Kagame regime in Rwanda and funded by Western nations, the M23’s control over key areas exacerbates the crisis.
The conflict, fueled in part by the global cobalt demand, has had devastating humanitarian consequences. Since 1998, it has led to over 5.4 million deaths and displaced around 7 million people, predominantly women and children. Furthermore, cobalt is extracted and sold to big tech companies at low prices, underscoring the economic dimension of this tragedy.
Kara, who holds a fellowship at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Kennedy School, has dedicated two decades to the study of contemporary slavery, human trafficking, and child labor.. “You have to imagine walking around some of these mining areas and dialing back our clock centuries,” Kara says. “People are working in subhuman, grinding, degrading conditions. They use pickaxes, shovels, stretches of rebar to hack and scrounge at the earth in trenches and pits and tunnels to gather cobalt and feed it up the formal supply chain.”
The United Nations Security Council, in February 2024, raised concerns about the escalating violence stating. Despite condemning the M23 offensive, certain council members, including the UK and US, have faced allegations of indirectly supporting the Rwandan group’s actions through funding and benefiting from the ensuing chaos.
The European Union halted its financial support to Rwanda in 2023 but was quickly replaced by the UK, which resumed and continues its funding, seemingly disregarding the regime’s actions. Israel’s role in the conflict is also scrutinized, with reports of arms shipments to Rwanda and a controversial deal involving Palestinian migrants.
The United States, initially a supporter of the Kagame regime, retracted its backing amid growing international condemnation. As reported by POLITICO, the US government sought to mitigate a foreign policy crisis by negotiating a deal to de-escalate the conflict in Congo.
China, as per the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), stands as the foremost importer of mined cobalt and a leading exporter of refined cobalt. Significantly, Chinese corporations hold substantial ownership in numerous cobalt mines across Congo. Despite this, the anticipated economic prosperity for Congo and its people remains elusive.
Government corruption significantly contributes to the continuation of these abuses. Consider the situation in Congo, a nation ravaged by war and deeply entrenched in poverty, with a history of exploitation and plundering dating back centuries to the slave trade. In such a context, when large foreign entities offer substantial financial incentives, it’s not hard to envision how corruption could easily take root.
The Congolese constitution enshrines the principle that “All Congolese people have the right to enjoy the national wealth.” Yet, reality starkly contradicts this ideal. The vast wealth generated by the cobalt industry,, has not translated into tangible benefits for the Congolese people. This disparity raises serious questions about the equitable distribution of resources and the fulfillment of constitutional promises in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This disparity raises serious questions about the equitable distribution of resources and the fulfillment of constitutional promises in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The situation in Congo serves as a stark reminder of this grim reality, where profit-driven motives continue to fuel violence and exploitation. Where interests overshadow humanitarian concerns.
Written by Rizwan Abu Huthaifa
CrossBorders.Press 
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