For many, the saying “there’s no place like home” resonates deeply, symbolising a profound desire for security, comfort, and belonging in one’s native land. However, for a significant portion of the global population, this sentiment remains tragically unfulfilled.

March to SA parliament. Although seeking refuge in South Africa and other nations presents its own set of challenges, many Congolese nationals would rather face these hardships than endure the horrors of starvation, sexual violence, genocide, or modern-day slavery that plague their homeland. (Photo: Vincent Lali)

Countries like South Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been ravaged by war, often due to their geopolitical positioning and the abundance of natural resources beneath their soil. The DRC alone holds approximately 80% of the world’s coltan reserves and an estimated 150 million carats in diamond reserves as of 2023. These invaluable natural resources, with an estimated worth of $24 trillion, have drawn the greed and exploitation of both Western and neighbouring nations, creating a cycle of conflict and suffering.

Mass displacement of people

By the end of 2023, over 117.3 million people worldwide had been displaced due to human rights abuses and instability in their home countries. This staggering figure includes 7.1 million internally displaced persons within the DRC as of March 2024. Furthermore, the plight of the Congolese is underscored by the 1,128,014 refugees and asylum seekers who fled the DRC in 2023. 

As of May 31, 2024, there were 42,132 registered Congolese refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa, a figure that does not account for those who undertake perilous journeys through neighbouring countries seeking safety. Although seeking refuge in South Africa and other nations presents its own set of challenges, many Congolese nationals would rather face these hardships than endure the horrors of starvation, sexual violence, genocide, or modern-day slavery that plague their homeland.

Armed conflict prevails

The DRC is engaged in a multifaceted struggle, facing two distinct but interconnected battles. In North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and much of eastern Congo, a nearly three-decade-long conflict has claimed over six million Congolese lives. And in Haut Katanga and Lualaba, there is a crisis of artisanal mining, including child mining. 

In eastern Congo, the turmoil began with the Rwandan genocide in 1994, which led to a mass influx of Rwandan refugees into Congo. The ensuing chaos prompted Rwandan President Paul Kagame to allege that Hutu perpetrators of the genocide were being sheltered in Congo (then Zaire), leading to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invading the DRC. This invasion initiated the First Congo War, which saw the RPF align with Laurent Kabila’s rebel group, the Alliance des Forces Démocratique pour la Libération du Congo Zaïre (AFDL), in their fight against Mobutu’s authoritarian regime.

In 1997, after the defeat of Mobutu, Kabila ascended to the presidency. However, his subsequent decision to revoke permission for Rwandan and Ugandan forces to operate freely in the DRC led to the outbreak of the Second Congo War, often referred to as Africa’s World War. This conflict was marked by a breakdown in relations between Kabila and the neighbouring nations that had helped him rise to power. Following Kabila’s assassination in 2001, his son, Joseph Kabila, assumed the presidency, yet violence and instability persisted. The ongoing conflict facilitated the smuggling of valuable minerals into Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, with various militia groups, including the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD), profiting from the theft of Congolese resources.

Conflict always tied to minerals

Thousands of people working in a cobalt pit. The lack of enforced mining regulations has led to a child mining crisis and left artisanal miners vulnerable. Brands like Tesla, Apple, and Dell benefit from this crisis. (Photo: Siddharth Kara)

As the conflict continued, it became increasingly apparent that the motivations behind these invasions had less to do with humanitarian concerns and more to do with resource acquisition. Rwanda emerged as a top exporter of coltan, amassing approximately $516 million in mineral exports in 2021. This represents only a fraction of the billions of dollars worth of minerals that Rwanda has extracted from the DRC, ultimately attracting foreign investors eager to capitalise on these resources. The situation is compounded by the fact that many multinational corporations operate with little regard for the human cost of their profit margins.

To maintain their influence and operations in the region, Kagame’s government has been implicated in funding the Mouvement de Mars 23 (M23), a militia that emerged in April 2012 after members of the Congolese army defected. The M23 wreaked havoc in North Kivu, causing the displacement of 200,000 people in just three months. Despite military interventions by the DRC armed forces (FARDC) and assistance from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the group remained a formidable force until its defeat in 2013. However, the momentary defeat of the M23 did not bring peace; violence and instability continued, perpetuating a cycle of suffering for the Congolese people.

The UN mapping report, which documented over 617 violent acts in the DRC from 1993 to 2003, highlighted egregious human rights violations linked to mineral exploitation. In addition to armed violence, sexual violence has been utilised as warfare designed to inflict deep suffering on Congolese people. Anneke van Woudenberg notes, “Rape is being used as a weapon of war in eastern Congo. We have documented that when armed groups enter a town, they rape women and girls—sometimes publicly, sometimes privately—in order to punish the local population. It’s the easiest way to terrorise a community.” 

In 2011, Congo was labelled the “rape capital of the world” after reports revealed that at least 48 women and girls were raped every hour. The consequences of these violent acts are not merely physical; they also lead to the social ostracisation of their victims.

After nearly a decade of remaining covert, the M23 rebel group launched a new offensive in October 2021, attacking Bunagana and perpetuating a relentless cycle of violence, death, and displacement in eastern Congo. On August 15, 16 civilians were killed in the Rutshuru territory of North Kivu by the M23. All this continues to prove that where capitalism persists, greed continues to drive the loss of innocent lives in the pursuit of minerals.

Driven by capitalism

Natural resources, including minerals like gold and tantalum found in the DRC, have exacerbated the worst traits of human behaviour. The ongoing conflict in the East is ignited by capitalist interests. Simultaneously, the DRC struggles to put an end to the child mining crisis facing the south of the country. In the provinces of Haut-Katanga and Lualaba, multinational mining companies benefit from the instability and poor governance by exploiting the country’s artisanal mining laws. This exploitation forces entire families to work under deplorable conditions. 

The price paid for green energy

As the world races to lead in renewable energy and produce electric cars to ‘save the planet’, individuals in the DRC work in hazardous mines without protective gear, exposed to toxic materials. The lack of enforced mining regulations has led to a child mining crisis and left artisanal miners vulnerable. Corruption, ongoing warfare, and poor governance create an environment where multinational companies exploit a struggling economy. Brands like Tesla, Apple, and Dell indirectly benefit from this child labour crisis by sourcing cobalt for their lithium-ion batteries from companies involved in artisanal mining, such as Congo Dongfang Mining CDM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese company, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Ltd.

It is almost paradoxical that to ensure the planet remains intact for future generations, current generations must endure exploitation and death. Many people do not realise that the conflict in Congo is a global issue. Whether knowingly or not, our actions implicate us in Congolese suffering through our governments, technological advancements, and the push for green energy to combat climate change. 

The Congolese lose their homes so that we can enjoy the comforts they are denied. How can we claim to be creating a safer planet with our technological advancements when it requires exploiting others? Who are we to decide who deserves safety and a place to call home? As Jean Bahati from Mushaki in North Kivu said to Hi.org: 

We have not offended God. We are Congolese. We just want to live in safety, peace, and freedom.

As long as profit-based exploitation of minerals in the country continues, safety, peace and freedom are just a dream. Right now, to be Congolese is to fear waking up because real life is a living nightmare.

Ruth Mudingayi is a South African-born Congolese who co-founded What is Happening in Congo?, an organisation dedicated to denouncing the atrocities occurring in the DRC.