Will Afghanistan’s mineral wealth result in the world’s next Conflict Mineral scenario?
By Juliette Terzieff
From cellular telephone to computers, from jewelry to medical devices, minerals sourced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) make their way into dozens of types of consumer products every year. But the competition to control the land and mines home to some of the world’s largest deposits of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold – collectively known as “Conflict Minerals” – drives violence, environmental degradation and human rights abuses. Proceeds from the sales fund armed groups vying for control.
It’s an abysmal situation – a flip-flopped jumble that sees an opportunity to enrich the lives of Congolese and fund development instead disintegrated into a nightmare scenario.
Multinational corporations in the electronics, aerospace, extractive, medical device, automotive and retail sectors have emerged as targets – and partners — in what is one of the most active and concentrated activist campaigns of this new decade.
