Mineral Wealth, Conflict, and Environmental Crisis: The DRC's Struggle in the Age of the Green Transition

This article explores how the mineral wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC), particularly its critical raw materials such cobalt, coltan and tantalum, compounded with the proliferation of demand for this minerals due to the green transition has exacerbated local conflict, environmental decadence and gross human rights abuses in the DRC. It also traces the historic genesis of armed conflict and the smokescreen behind the militarization of mining sites and thus critiques existing policy responses such as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, Dodd-Frank Act, and ICGLR Certification Mechanism, contending that they constitute an over- focus on militarization while neglecting corruption and abuse by state actors. The article calls for more holistic, inclusive policies that address structural governance failures and protect both people and the environment amid the rush for green energy resources.