In the heart of Africa lies the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation abundant in mineral wealth that powers the global technological revolution. Its reserves of cobalt—a critical component in the rechargeable batteries used in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles—are unmatched, providing nearly 75% of the world’s supply. However, beneath this economic potential is a harrowing reality of exploitation, environmental devastation, and human suffering, much of it driven by China’s dominant presence in the mining industry. The world’s reliance on cobalt has perpetuated a system of near-slavery, child labor, and corruption that demands immediate global attention.

The Precious Metal Behind Modern Technology

Cobalt is indispensable to modern life, fueling the batteries that power everything from electric vehicles to consumer electronics. As demand for renewable energy surges, so does the demand for cobalt, which is expected to increase eightfold by 2040. Yet, for the miners in Congo’s cobalt-rich regions, this demand brings no relief from poverty. Instead, it perpetuates a cycle of exploitation.

Artisanal miners, known locally as creuseurs, toil in dangerous conditions with little to no safety measures. Equipped with nothing more than hand tools like pickaxes and spades, they dig into the red earth to extract cobalt ore. Many of these miners are children—some as young as nine—forced into labor to help their families survive. A day of back-breaking work earns them no more than $2, barely enough to meet basic needs.

The mining process itself is perilous. “We miners die a lot,” admitted Ghlislain Mujinga Kaungu, a 28-year-old father of five. Collapses in the tunnels, which can extend up to 100 meters deep, are common. During the rainy season, the risks intensify as waterlogged tunnels cave in, often burying miners alive. “Sometimes we are afraid because if you look at the ceiling [of the tunnel], you will see that it is already very fragile. Things are going to fall on you. And this can result in either a broken leg or a broken hand, or your skull will be fractured.”

Cobalt dust, which is toxic to touch and breathe, further exacerbates the miners’ plight. Pregnant women working as ore washers report alarming rates of stillbirths and birth defects in their children due to prolonged exposure to heavy metals. A Lancet study confirmed that pregnant women in cobalt-mining communities have the highest levels of heavy metals ever reported in their bloodstreams.

China’s Stranglehold on Congo’s Resources

China has systematically secured control of the DRC’s mineral wealth, owning over 80% of the nation’s copper and cobalt mines. Since 2009, when then-President Joseph Kabila signed a controversial deal with Beijing, Chinese companies have seized ownership of 15 of Congo’s 19 primary mining concessions. Chinese investments promise infrastructure projects like roads and hospitals, but these promises often go unfulfilled while the resources are extracted at a rapid pace.

This dominance extends far beyond the mining pits. Chinese middlemen and traders operate at every level of the cobalt supply chain, ensuring that much of the mineral ends up in China for refining. Siddharth Kara, a Harvard researcher and author of Cobalt Red, describes the situation as “modern-day slavery.” He explains, “Imagine an entire population of people who cannot survive without scrounging in hazardous conditions for a dollar or two a day. There is no alternative there. The mines have taken over everything.”

The Chinese-controlled mining operations are notorious for their disregard for human rights and environmental regulations. Amnesty International and the Initiative for Good Governance and Human Rights (IBGDH) report that residents are frequently displaced to make way for mining expansions, often without fair compensation. Toxic effluents from the mining process contaminate water supplies, while abandoned pits turn into breeding grounds for diseases like malaria.

The Human Cost of Modern Convenience

Despite Congo’s mineral wealth, its people see little benefit. The country ranks near the bottom of global corruption indices, with the riches flowing into the pockets of a corrupt elite and foreign investors rather than improving the lives of ordinary citizens. For many, the cobalt rush has brought only suffering. “We don’t have 100 Congolese francs in our house,” said Ghlislain, emphasizing the desperate conditions that force families into the mines. “There is no flour or vegetables.”

Children are among the most vulnerable. An estimated 40,000 children work in Congo’s cobalt mines, often under militia control. Kara recounts meeting children trafficked hundreds of miles to labor in these hazardous pits. “Young mothers with babies strapped to their backs, all breathing in this toxic cobalt dust,” he said. “It’s a horror show.”

The tragedy extends to entire communities. Families mourn lost loved ones buried in mine collapses, while children born near mining areas suffer from preventable birth defects. Still, the Congolese people endure these hardships with little recourse. “Normally, if I get 100 francs from the Chinese, I’ll put it towards [my children’s] schooling,” said Ghlislain. “So that they become respectable people.”

The World’s Complicity

While China bears much of the blame for the exploitation in Congo, the rest of the world is far from innocent. Western tech giants like Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft have faced lawsuits over their indirect use of child-mined cobalt. However, legal loopholes and opaque supply chains shield them from accountability. Kara highlights the “complete cross-contamination” of industrially mined and artisanal cobalt, making it impossible to source “clean cobalt.”

Efforts to curb child labor and improve working conditions have fallen woefully short. The U.S. Department of Labor’s initiative to combat child labor in the DRC’s mining sector has made limited progress, hindered by corruption and lack of enforcement. Meanwhile, consumers in the Global North remain largely unaware of the suffering embedded in their devices and electric vehicles.

ACZ Editor: China has never cared about the right of its own people, much less the welfare of non-Chinese people in other countries. After all, China is the “Middle Kingdom” and should have its slaves… And of course, Congolese officials will not be concerned with change until someone comes up with higher bribes – the lives of the people of DRC are a distant third.