Copper revelation in Congo reignites resource exploitation debate
In the mineral-rich region of Katanga, southeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a mountain slope collapsed, revealing vast copper ore deposits hidden under the rocks. This accidental discovery has ignited a debate about colonialism and foreign powers' exploitation of the country. "The vultures are already gathering," commented one user on a video posted on the X platform.
The video on the X platform captures people screaming and fleeing from rocks tumbling into the river. Suddenly, the slope transformed with hues of green, a characteristic of copper ore. Tons of ore mixed with rocks cascaded into the water, creating waves and instilling fear among hundreds of people gathered on the shore.
This unexpected find has sparked a discussion on social media about colonialism and the country’s resources being exploited by foreign entities.
The West will not allow any African country to use its resources, remarked one user under the video on the X platform. Congolese people will no longer live in peace due to their immense mineral deposits. The vultures are already gathering, added another commentator on the discovery.
According to a report by Amnesty International (AI) from 2023, the extraction of natural resources in the DRC has led to widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence.
The world’s largest cobalt producer
The Congolese region of Katanga, which is one and a half times the size of Poland, is situated within the African Copperbelt. This Copperbelt stretches nearly 500 kilometres (310 miles) from Luanshya in Zambia to Katanga in Congo. Copper has been mined here for over a century, and in the 1950s, it was the largest copper mining area in the world. Currently, about 30 mines operate in Katanga, making the DRC the largest producer of this resource in Africa.
But it is not just copper that is extracted in the DRC. The country is the world's largest producer of cobalt, accounting for 70 percent of its global production, and it also possesses deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium, and the rare coltan. The World Bank notes that "the DRC has over a thousand valuable minerals," with economists estimating their value at approximately 24 trillion dollars.
Despite this wealth, the DRC does not use its resources to benefit its citizens. According to the UN, over 70 percent of the country's population lives in poverty, a situation further exacerbated by a decade-long ongoing war with numerous rebel groups fighting over land and resources.
