Coltan, Congo & Conflict Case Study Collective of authors

Link: http://www.hcss.nl/sites/defau...
Source: The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

In the early 2000s, tantalum – a rare metal with some unique properties that

make it an important raw material for information and communication

technologies – suddenly moved from obscure geological publications into a

wide public spotlight. Effective NGO campaigns using catchy slogans, such as ‘No blood on my mobile’, emphasized that consumer demand in the West for mobile phones, computers, game consoles and other electronic devices, all of which contain small amounts of tantalum, fueled mass atrocities in the

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The strong public attention on tantalum and coltan is somewhat puzzling.

Coltan is far from being the most important mineral that is mined in the DRC, and the DRC has never been the main tantalum supplier to the global market. This report therefore seeks to redress the largely mediatic coverage of the role of coltan mining in the DRC conflict, contributing to a more informed analysis of the relationship between the two.

The main problem in the DRC is the weakness of governance and the inability of the state to fulfill its basic functions. In such a context, ending the violence requires a long-term and comprehensive approach that combines miltary, political, and economic efforts, with a particular emphasis on building capable and legitimate institutions, restoring the state’s monopoly on violence, and promoting economic development that is not based on illegal activities.

Keywords

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