The human cost of cobalt in the DRC: Child labour and dependency theory in the global green transition

This article assesses the structural drivers of child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt mining sector within the global energy transition. Drawing on Dependency Theory, it argues that child labour in cobalt mining is not merely a local governance failure but is systemically linked to a global political economy that prioritizes the extraction of raw materials to drive technological advancement in the Global North. The analysis situates labour exploitation within the historical trajectory of colonial extraction, neoliberal reforms, and regional geopolitical instability that have limited the DRC's regulatory capacity. The article evaluates the limitations of voluntary corporate due diligence frameworks and highlights the ongoing gaps in global supply chain accountability. It concludes by advocating for stronger mandatory international regulatory frameworks and a greater emphasis on resource sovereignty in the DRC as a key step towards mitigating the structural conditions that enable child labour in cobalt mining.