Escalation In Eastern DRC Linked To Competition For $24 Trillion In Resources
(MENAFN- AzerNews)
The ongoing escalation in the eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) is driven by competition for the country's vast natural
resources, estimated at $24 trillion, Azernews
reports, citing African Stream.
The publication highlights that minerals extracted through
illegal mining in the DRC are funneled into global markets via
Rwanda, despite its relatively modest natural resource reserves. In
2023, Rwanda's mining-related revenues surged 43% year-on-year,
surpassing $1.1 billion.
Strategically significant minerals such as casserite, tungsten,
and coltan play a key role in this trade. A 2021 geological survey
found that the United States sources 36% of its tantalum from
Rwanda, compared to just 7% from the DRC.
The UN has identified Rwanda as a key transit point for
illegally mined Congolese minerals. A 2024 UN report states that
the M23 group, which benefits from Rwandan support, has seized the
Rubaya region-home to a major coltan mine-and imposed high taxes on
raw material extraction.
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