My visual essay is on the issue of conflict minerals in the Congo. The high value of minerals such as Coltan has led to exploitation and violent conflict in the Congo with terrible consequences for local populations. Coltan is one of the most valuable minerals for the production of electronic devices because it’s use has allowed devices to become smaller, more complex and more versatile.
However, for people living in the Democratic Republic Congo struggling with the conflict the mineral is a burden. Coltan is a mineral found in abundance in the Congo but many of the mines are controlled by violent militia groups and they fund their fighting by controlling the extraction of coltan and taking a fat slice of the sales.
However, the issue goes deeper than the current abuses related to Coltan mining. The natural resources of Congo have long been exploited by corrupt individuals and groups. This has been the case throughout the colonial era and has continued in the post colonial era. My in-depth research will examine this aspect more closely to understand and explain the global economic and political forces that have led to the situation in the Congo. I’ll also focus on the role of global technology corporations in driving the exploitation of the Congalese population.
One main source for my visual essay is the Foreign Correspondent documentary DRC - Congo Connection produced by the ABC. This documentary sets out the modern political and economic forces driving the conflict and violence associated with the so-called conflict minerals.
The documentary also examines some of the historical context for the colonial and post colonial exploitation of the Congo’s resources.The other key source for my research is the article by Kwadjo Danso published on the Grassroots Thinking website, which provides a more detailed analysis of the history of exploitation of the Congo and its peoples. It also examines the role of Western powers in continuing this exploitation in the post colonial era.
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