Potential U.S. cobalt deal in DRC comes with many risks

Human Rights Research Center

Mar 203 min read

Author: Peter Clarkin, MA

March 20, 2025

HRRC strongly believes that while security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must be pursued, it must not come at the expense of the rights of individuals working in the country’s dangerous cobalt mines.

Artisanal miners carry sacks of ore at the Shabara artisanal mine near Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 12, 2022. Some 20,000 people work at Shabara in shifts of 5,000 at a time. [Image credit: Junior Kannah/AFP via Getty Images]

The potential for future U.S. investment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) grew this week after a meeting between the Congolese President, Felix Tshisekedi and U.S. lawmaker, Ronny Jackson.

DRC is home to 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, and this valuable component is currently sought after by many multinational corporations in their production of rechargeable batteries for smartphones, laptops and the like.

This current get-together comes a month after the government in Congo presented a minerals-for-security deal to the U.S.. The turbulent situation in the east of the country has reached such a point that the need for the establishment of stability and security are essential for tens of thousands of displaced civilians.

Since the start of the year the M23 rebels have gained significant territory including the city of Goma, home to over 700,000 people. United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in the region have suffered fatalities, and there have been eye-witness reports of the use of residents as human shields by the Rwandan backed group.

While a deal with the U.S. may help the stability within the cobalt rich region, serious consideration must be taken to highlight and improve the rights and the conditions of the miners, many of whom are children.

Out of the 150,000 artisanal miners in the country approximately 40,000 of them are children, and they face life threatening dangers on a daily basis. The risks of a mine collapsing or of an individual being over exposed to a harmful level of radioactive gas, are very real and must be addressed by any nation investing in the area.

Glossary

Artisanal –Refers to small-scale, often informal mining operations.
Cobalt- A hard, shiny, silver-blue metal used in making strong alloys and blue pigments.
Displaced – Forced to leave one's home, typically due to conflict, natural disasters, or other crises.
Exposed – Vulnerable to danger, harm, or the elements, whether physically, socially, or politically.
Fatalities- Deaths caused by an accident, disaster, or violence.
Human Shields – Civilians or non-combatants used by armed groups to deter attacks by positioning them near military targets.
Lawmaker – A person who creates or enacts laws, such as a legislator or member of a parliament.
M23- A rebel group in DRC, formed in 2012 by rebellious soldiers. It operates in the east, has been accused of human rights abuses, and is suspected of receiving support from Rwanda.
Minerals-for-Security Deal – An agreement in which access to valuable mineral resources is exchanged for military support, security guarantees, or defence cooperation.
Multinational Corporations – Large companies that operate in multiple countries, often with global supply chains and economic influence across borders.
Peacekeepers – Military or civilian personnel deployed by international organizations, such as the United Nations, to maintain peace and security in conflict zones.
Radioactive gas- A gas that gives off harmful energy and can be dangerous to health.
Rebels – Armed groups or individuals who oppose and fight against an established government or authority, often seeking political change.
Turbulent – Characterised by instability, disorder, or conflict, whether in a political, economic, or social context.

Sources

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Potential U.S. cobalt deal in DRC comes with many risks

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