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Fighting Over Minerals Threatens to Escalate Conflict in War-Torn Democratic Republic of Congo
Fighting over minerals needed for electric cars and mobile phones has become the Trump administration’s first real foreign affairs test in Africa. The M23 rebels, backed by neighboring Rwanda, have taken control of Goma, a city of 2 million people in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The conflict has left bodies lying in the streets and hospitals overwhelmed with casualties.
According to reports, the M23 has captured control of a significant portion of the city following intense fighting with the Congolese army. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that reports have emerged of looting of shops, offices, and warehouses belonging to humanitarian organizations, with heavy gunfire and explosions heard in various parts of the city.
Frans Cronje, an adviser at the U.S. Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, explained that the M23 must stop their advance on Goma and that all parties must cease hostilities, restore unhindered humanitarian access, and honor their commitments.
The M23 has been accused of taxing minerals mined in areas under its control, with a United Nations report stating that they have raised significant sums from "taxing" minerals. The report also found that M23 has its eyes on other precious metals, including cobalt, which is used in EV batteries, and copper, which is used in various industrial processes.
President Donald Trump has spoken out about the violence in the DRC, calling it a "very serious problem." The State Department has called for a ceasefire and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity.
Some experts believe that the conflict is not just about minerals, but also about Rwandan ambitions to control the region and flex its military muscles as a new regional powerhouse in central and East Africa. Others point to the DRC’s failure to address its own internal issues, including corruption and poverty, as contributing to the conflict.
The international community, including China and Russia, is watching the situation closely, with some countries offering support to one side or the other. The U.S. has called for a ceasefire and for all parties to respect sovereign territorial integrity.
The conflict in the DRC threatens to escalate into a regional crisis, with key implications for global powers and the global economy. As the situation unfolds, the international community must work together to find a peaceful resolution and to address the root causes of the conflict.