Cobalt and Corruption: The Influence of Multinational Firms and Foreign States on the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

The history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is littered with foreign influence and corruption. While colonial forces sought for diamonds and rubber, the nation’s abundance of cobalt, a key metal in cellphone and electric vehicle construction, has fueled a recent flurry of international interest. Now, key companies, individuals, and countries operating in the DRC’s enormous mining sector will determine the country’s economic future. From undisclosed billion-dollar agreements to human rights abuses, exploitation has defined the DRC. As civil war ravages the country and undermines its political structure, rebel groups profit off of the poverty of artisanal miners and Congolese citizens. The people of the DRC have tried to navigate through the rocks and rapids of their country’s troubled past. It remains to be seen whether the DRC’s new president, Felix Tshisekedi will steer them toward a calmer future or repeat the mistakes of those before him.