At the juncture of Mineral Diplomacy, finds itself the Congo?
Trump's administration is eyeing the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) due to its rich reserves of critical minerals like cobalt, copper, and rare earths. But the DRC presents Trump with a tricky predicament. To gain access to these resources, the DRC wants US military assistance to combat M23 rebels, who are backed by Rwandan leader Paul Kagame. Kagame is known for turning Rwanda into a developmental powerhouse, yet he's also accused of funding a proxy war in DRC with mineral riches to keep conflicts away from his border. Interestingly, Kagame is one of the few African leaders who approve of Trump's harsh cutbacks on foreign aid.
A trip back in time reveals the United States' previous engagement with DRC during its Belgian colonial period and post-independence as Zaire. In 2002, I visited the University of Kinshasa, once supported by American financial assistance during the Cold War, but now struggling with meager resources. The university, with over 29,000 students, even has a small experimental nuclear reactor built by American firm General Atomics in 1958 and serviced in the 1970s through the "Atoms for Peace" program. The US recognized the importance of Congolese uranium mines in fueling the Manhattan project.
However, the northern jungles of Congo present a sinister reminder of wasted wealth. During Mobutu Sese Seko's rule from 1965-1997, he developed Gbadolite, a remote city from where he came to power. With an airport capable of accommodating a Concorde, choicest European frescoes, and clean water and electricity, it was often called the "Versailles of the Jungle." But despite these luxuries, the city fell to rebels in 1997, leaving Gbadolite in ruins. Three decades later, Congo remains ensnared in one of the most grueling civil wars in history, with nearly six million lives lost since Mobutu's exit.
Scholars have debated why a country with such potential could become underdeveloped and plagued by conflict. Some call it the "resource curse," making mineral extraction for new states taboo. As Trump weighs a mineral deal with DRC, he should consider the concerns raised by experts like Sidharth Kara, who exposé on the cobalt mines of Congo revealed the hidden costs of technology and the despair faced by miners. He should also consider a trip to Burundi, which has a higher-grade rare earth deposit and fewer conflict issues than DRC.
Amidst this, Musk, a close advisor to Trump, stoked controversy by retweeting a message implying that Hitler didn't murder millions. Meanwhile, the "Blood Moon" total eclipse lit up the skies, capturing stunning photographs. The NYT Mini Today provided intellectual challenges for crossword enthusiasts.
- Massad Boulos, an expert on critical minerals, might find it intriguing to learn that Congo's northern jungles hold a sinister reminder of wasted wealth, as they were once home to the opulent and abandoned city of Gbadolite, a relic of the resource curse.
- Patrice, a crossword enthusiast, might find it challenging to solve a clue about uranium, a mineral that has a complex history in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the United States had previously established a small experimental nuclear reactor, reflecting the country's significant role in war-time uranium production.
- In relation to Trump's plans to secure mineral resources from the DRC, one may contemplate that the ongoing inequalities faced by cobalt miners in the country, as exposed by Sidharth Kara, could be a critical factor to consider, given the potential association of these minerals with technology and the widespread use of smartphones and electric vehicles.