Copper cliffs reveal hidden riches, rekindle colonial fears
In the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, within the mineral-rich Katanga region, a mountainside has collapsed, exposing vast deposits of copper ore previously hidden beneath the rocks. This accidental discovery has sparked a discussion 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.
20 November 2024 08:19
The video shared on the X platform shows people screaming and fleeing from the falling rocks that descended into the river. Shortly after, the mountainside took on the green hues typical of copper ore. Tons of ore, along with rocks, fell into the water, creating waves and fear among the hundreds of onlookers standing on the bank.
This unexpected discovery has initiated discussions on social media about colonialism and the exploitation of the country by foreign influences.
The West will not allow any African country to utilise its resources, wrote one user under the video posted 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 (AI), the exploitation of natural resources in the DRC has led to rampant human rights violations, including sexual violence.
- The people of the Congo have faced significant exploitation and abuse during the colonial and post-colonial periods, and their rights continue to be sacrificed as the wealth surrounding them is extracted - summed up Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of AI.
The world's largest cobalt producer
The Congolese region of Katanga, one and a half times the size of Poland, lies in the African Copperbelt, which stretches for nearly 480 kilometres from Luanshya in Zambia to Katanga in the Congo. Copper has been mined in this region for a century, and in the 1950s, it was the largest copper mining area in the world. Currently, copper is extracted in about 30 mines across Katanga, making the DRC the largest producer of this resource in Africa.
But the DRC is not solely about copper. The country is the world's largest producer of cobalt, contributing 70% of global production, and holds deposits of gold, diamonds, uranium, and rare coltan. According to the World Bank, "The DRC possesses over a thousand valuable minerals," with economists valuing them at about £19 trillion.
Despite these resources, the DRC does not utilise its wealth to benefit its people. According to the UN, over 70% of the country's population lives in poverty, a situation further aggravated by a conflict lasting over a decade, with numerous rebel groups fighting over land and resources.
