Why conflict mineral narratives don’t explain the M23 rebellion in DR Congo
The New Humanitarian7 days
Over 200 Killed in Congo Coltan Mine Collapse
Does M23's coltan profiteering fuel Congo's violence or is blaming minerals a tired colonial narrative?
Image credit:Â Voxafrica via X
The Spin
Narrative A
The Rubaya mine collapse exposes how M23 rebels profit from coltan extraction while ignoring basic safety, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly through taxation, yet leaving workers to dig with hand tools in deadly conditions. This tragedy underscores the brutal reality of conflict minerals, where armed groups exploit impoverished laborers and unstable terrain for revenue that fuels ongoing violence.
Narrative B
Blaming mineral greed for eastern Congo's conflict is a tired colonial narrative that ignores complex geopolitical realities and reduces African warfare to simple resource theft. The M23 insurgency began over two years before seizing Rubaya, driven by security concerns and political ambitions, not mining profits. Conflict minerals legislation has only hurt local miners while doing nothing for peace.