Coltan Mining in DRC: Landslides Expose Structural Violence and Resource Exploitation
Original framing: “Congo’s Coltan Belt: Verifying Deadly Landslides At Mines Under M23 Control” — Bellingcat
The exploitation of Congolese resources dates back to the colonial era, with rubber and ivory extraction under King Leopold II. The current coltan mining crisis is a continuation of this pattern, with foreign powers and corporations benefiting while Congolese people suffer.
The deadly landslides in the DRC are not isolated incidents but the result of a global system that prioritizes profit over people and planet.
This system is rooted in colonial legacies, reinforced by corporate greed, and enabled by weak governance and complicit international actors. To break this cycle, we must integrate Indigenous knowledge, scientific evidence, and ethical economic models into a new paradigm of resource governance. By centering the voices of Congolese communities and holding global actors accountable, we can begin to transform extractive industries into regenerative systems that honor both land and life.