US Eyes Congo Minerals Deal Amid Child Labor Concerns

By Staff, Agencies

The United States is in negotiations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over a potential minerals agreement that could grant Washington access to critical resources in exchange for security support.

However, human rights organizations are warning that without formal protections for the country’s informal mining sector, such a deal could exacerbate child labor and unsafe working conditions in one of the world’s most resource-rich but vulnerable regions.

Nonprofits like the Fair Cobalt Alliance (FCA) and academic observers say the inflow of US investment, especially in industrial mining, will inevitably stimulate artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), where labor is often informal, underregulated, and dangerous.

“ASM is part of the mining fabric,” said David Sturmes, director of partnerships at the FCA. “Even if the US only invests in industrial mining, this will attract artisanal and small-scale mining.”

The DRC holds vast reserves of cobalt and copper, key materials for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy, and military technology.

Despite the presence of major mining companies, a significant share of the country's cobalt and copper is mined artisanally, often with limited oversight and high human cost.

Last December the DRC filed lawsuits in Paris and Brussels against Apple’s European subsidiaries, accusing the company of sourcing "blood minerals" illegally mined in its conflict-ridden regions. 

According to estimates, the country’s ASM sector includes around 2 million workers, many of whom are children. 

With copper prices rising, artisanal mining of the metal has surged, while cobalt production has slowed due to falling prices.

Those familiar with Congo’s mining ecosystem say foreign investment without safeguards could lead to increased use of child labor and dangerous extraction methods.