Congo's Conflict, Cobalt and ... China?

On February 20th, the United States warned two countries that they “must walk back from the brink of war” or face the continuation of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. This statement was not in reference to a conflict occurring in the Middle East, or in Eurasia, two of the most currently highly publicized world regions. Instead, the US was referring to the tensions between the Democratic Republic of Congo, and its neighbor Rwanda. Since the First Congo War in 1996, over six million people have been killed, and millions more have suffered displacement due to this conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. One of the most prominent Tutsi groups, M23, had been dormant for over a decade but re-emerged in 2022. Rwanda has been accused of backing M23, with Ugandan president Felix Tshisekedi saying Rwandan leader Paul Kagame “will end up like Adolf Hitler.” The Congolese government and the Tutsi Rebellion have been locked in an escalating battle for DRC territory, with citizens as collateral. However, beyond the harm to civilians, looting, and displacement, control over the DRC will have worldwide implications. 

The victors of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo have the ability to cause the disruption of technology production on a global scale. The DRC is responsible for producing around 70% of the world’s cobalt, a mineral used in virtually every device, from cell phones to the batteries of electric vehicles. The chase for this precious mineral has led to evictions and the displacement of Congolese citizens to ensure access to mines. Rebel groups and foreign actors, like the neighboring countries, have much to gain from territorial conflict and the money and power that comes from the acquisition of cobalt. 

While the M23 rebels and other local groups battle for the minerals, international countries fight to keep their ownership. Companies in the United States once owned an ample portion of the mines but sold their share to Chinese ownership during the Obama and Trump Administrations. Due to China’s practice of funding its companies through state-owned banks, they were able to gain rights to 15 out of the 19 Congolese cobalt mines. In fact, the Diplomat reports that the five largest of the Chinese mining corporations have been granted access to state-bank credit lines that total $124 billion dollars. The conflict with M23 has caused China to offer to train the Congolese military or provide security in order to protect their mines. Furthermore, China has negotiated arms deals and equipped the Congolese military with drones and other weapons to fight M23. 

China’s fervid enthusiasm to control the Congo’s cobalt supply and its monopoly on the mines should rouse concern in other industrialized nations. The United States should have retained its ownership and listened to the top diplomats during the time of the key trading of the mines. For example, diplomats such as Tom Perriello and André Kapanga implored the State Department through emails, phone calls, and pleas to beg the American ambassador to realize their grave ‘mistake,’ Now, China has a huge advantage in the technology race toward clean energy and global electrification. Over 50% of the cobalt extracted in the Congo is used for rechargeable batteries but also military ammunition, jet engines, and, most worrisome, stealth technologies. China’s policymakers have claimed that reaching sustainability goals will help transform China into a “modern socialist country” as soon as 2049. So, China’s unlimited access to cobalt will also allow for the mass production of military and “clean” technologies, boosting their economy. The United States must also recognize its stake in having a stable Congo and pay attention to Chinese movements for cobalt domination, or risk falling behind on the international stage.