Conflict minerals are natural resources in the form of minerals which are extracted from zones of conflict. The income generated from selling the minerals is used to fuel the conflict, exacerbating it even further. This can lead to prolonged conflicts and facilitate armed groups to take over territories rich in resources which adds to the violence.
The minerals which have caused the most conflict around the world and therefore are known as conflict minerals are: tin, tungsten, coltan and gold, also known as 3TG.
The 3TG minerals are necessary components for electronics such as cell phones and laptops, automobiles, jewelry and watches, and even toothpaste. In fact, the average European comes in contact with conflict minerals every day, every time they use their cell phone to send a Whatsapp or check Facebook, as well as every time they get in a car or brush their teeth.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a long and unstable history of various armed conflicts which have been fueled by various armed groups through the movement of conflict minerals. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a former colony of Belgium so therefore the official language is French, however, there are over 200 dialects spoken in DRC showing the cultural complexity of the country. The DRC has the potential to be a very rich country as it holds about 80% of the world's coltans reserves, a mineral ore which tantalum can be extracted. However, DRC is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world, ranking 156/176 in the corruption index and having 73% of the population living in poverty.
The neighboring countries of DRC also are involved in fueling the conflict mineral conflicts in DRC. The countries which have been involved in illegally smuggling conflict minerals include: Angola, Brunudi, Central Africa Republic, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Fighting forces who use conflict minerals to fuel the current conflicts include the Congolese National Army, various armed rebel groups as well as democratic forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. The conflicts fueled by these armed groups have been responsible for over 5.4 million deaths since 1998. Additionally, over $124 million dollars were generated by arms groups in 2009 to fund current conflicts through conflict minerals.
The conflicts in DRC can be found where the minerals are. The conflict minerals can be found along the eastern boarder of DRC which have become the main conflict zones leading to over 4.25 million people displaced within DRC and over 600,000 congolese refugees fleeing from DRC to seek safety abroad in neighboring countries.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Dodd Frank Act Section 1502 which required publicly traded companies to disclose the origins where the conflict minerals they purchase have come from. The company must public disclose the source as well as try to ensure that they are not funding arms groups especially in sub-Sahara Africa. This increase of transparency has improved conditions in DRC leading to less child labor and slavery like conditions throughout DRC.
Additionally, the European Union has passed legislation where all 28 member states must identify the source of metals and minerals imported. This legislation is legally binding in 2021, however it's weakness is that it doesn't cover the whole supply chain.
REFERENCES
https://www.maplecroft.com/insights/analysis/myanmars-tainted-tin-is-entering-company-supply-chains/
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