Hidden treasures of Congo: Epic copper find stirs debate
In the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the mineral-rich Katanga region, a mountainside collapsed, uncovering massive deposits of copper ore hidden beneath the rocks. This unexpected discovery has sparked a conversation about colonialism and the exploitation of the country by foreign powers. "The vultures are already gathering," wrote one user under a video posted on the X platform.
7:01 AM EST, November 20, 2024
The video posted on the X platform shows people screaming and running away as rocks plunge into the river. Gradually, the mountainside took on shades of green, indicative of copper ore. Tons of ore, along with rocks, were falling into the water, causing waves and fear among the hundreds of people standing on the bank.
This accidental discovery triggered a discussion on social media about colonialism and the exploitation of the country by foreign powers.
The West will not allow any African country to use its resources, wrote one user under the video on the X platform. Congolese people will no longer live in peace because of their vast mineral deposits. The vultures are already gathering, commented another on the discovery.
According to a 2023 report by Amnesty International, the exploitation of natural resources in the DRC has led to rampant human rights violations, including sexual violence.
- The people of the Congo have experienced significant exploitation and abuse during the colonial and post-colonial periods, and their rights continue to be sacrificed as the wealth around them is taken away, concluded Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
The world's largest cobalt producer
The Congolese region of Katanga, which is one and a half times the size of Poland, lies in the African Copperbelt, stretching for nearly 300 miles from Luanshya in Zambia to Katanga in the Congo. Copper has been mined in this region for a hundred years, and in the 1950s, it was the largest copper mining area in the world. Currently, copper is extracted in about 30 mines in Katanga, making the DRC the largest producer of this resource in Africa.
However, the DRC is not only about copper. The country is the world's largest producer of cobalt, accounting for 70% of global production, and has deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium, and rare coltan. According to the World Bank, "The DRC has over a thousand valuable minerals," and economists estimate their value at about $24 trillion.
Despite these resources, the DRC does not use its wealth to benefit its citizens. According to the UN, over 70% of the country's population lives in poverty, a situation further worsened by a war lasting for over a decade, with numerous rebel groups fighting over land and resources.
