Webinar: Whither the Democratic Republic of Congo?

The Geopolitics of Critical Energy Transition Minerals and the DRC’s Resource Curse

On 30 April 2025, Southern Africa Resource Watch hosted a timely and compelling webinar under the theme “Whither the Democratic Republic of Congo? Interrogating the Geopolitics of Critical Energy Transition Minerals and the DRC’s Resource Curse.” Held amid escalating geopolitical tensions and mineral-fuelled violence, the webinar brought together policy experts, civil society voices, and international analysts to examine how the global race for transition minerals is deepening the DRC’s long-standing development challenges.

The conversation was shaped by recent developments—including the DRC’s temporary ban on cobalt exports, the ongoing conflict involving M23 rebels, and mounting pressure from both the United States and China to secure access to the DRC’s vast mineral wealth. With cobalt, copper, lithium, tin, and tantalum playing pivotal roles in clean technologies, the DRC remains at the heart of the global energy transition—but too often, its people remain excluded from its benefits.

The session was moderated by Prof. David Monyae, Director of the Centre for Africa–China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, and featured insights from:

• Maurice Miema, Director, Centre for Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of Minerals (CEEC), DRC
• Prof Nathalie Nakabanda, Faculty of Law, Catholic University of Bukavu and Higher Institute of Rural Development, DRC
• Landry Djimpe, Managing Partner, Innogence Consulting, DRC
• Sasha Lezhnev, Senior Policy Advisor, The Sentry
• Wilson Rading, Partner, The Rand Institute for Policy and Education

What we heard:

• The Resource Curse is Alive and Evolving: Speakers warned that the global demand for cobalt, copper, and 3T minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum) is reinforcing cycles of exploitation, conflict, and corruption. Prof Nakabanda delivered a powerful testimony on systemic human rights violations in eastern DRC—ranging from sexual violence to forced displacement—and called for peace, justice, and governance rooted in protecting the lives of Congolese citizens.
• Illicit Trade and International Complicity: Sasha Lezhnev unpacked the conflict economy behind mineral extraction, highlighting the roles of armed groups, corrupt state actors, and multinational corporations. He stressed the need for contract transparency, enforcement of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and sanctions against those profiting from illicit trade.
• Geopolitics and Mineral Diplomacy: Landry Djimpe highlighted the geopolitical tug-of-war between China and the United States, each seeking to dominate supply chains. Despite rising commodity prices, value addition remains elusive in the DRC, due to underdeveloped infrastructure, limited local processing capacity, and the foreign control of key assets.
• Hope Lies in Governance, Not Just Partnerships: Wilson Rading argued that unless governance, law enforcement, and community inclusion are prioritised, emerging security-for-minerals deals will only entrench the status quo. He called for demilitarisation, coherent resource policies, and justice for both past and ongoing atrocities.
• Reforming the Artisanal Sector: Maurice Miema offered insights into the government’s efforts to formalise artisanal mining through cooperatives, designated export zones, and pilot schemes. However, he acknowledged that implementation remains weak, particularly in enforcing Article 30 of the Mining Code, which regulates the coexistence of industrial and artisanal mining.

Where Do We Go From Here?

• A two-page policy brief will be published to consolidate the key insights and recommendations.
• The DRC government is being urged to formalise artisanal mining, enforce cohabitation laws, and expand infrastructure and skills development to support mineral beneficiation.
• The US and EU were called upon to embed transparency, accountability, and local beneficiation in all future mineral agreements with the DRC.
• Civil society and international partners must continue to challenge extractive geopolitics and advocate for just, sustainable governance of the DRC’s mineral resources.

Webinar Recording & Audio

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