Congo 'Shares' Minerals Projects, US 'Advises' on Ownership
Bloomberg breathlessly reports the Democratic Republic of Congo will 'share a list of minerals projects' with the US for 'possible development by American investors' to 'advance a pact.' This 'pact,' signed six weeks ago, (as if that much time elapsed before the assets were 'shared') sounds less like a mutual agreement and more like a colonial power updating its inventory. After all, the DRC holds
70% of the world's cobalt – a critical component for US electric cars and military tech – and has seen decades of resource extraction fueled by foreign interests, often exacerbating conflict and instability. (Remember how the 'blood diamonds' narrative conveniently faded when cobalt became the new gold for Western consumption?) The US, of course, isn't 'investing' in Congolese development; it's
securing its supply chain dominance, ensuring these vital reserves don't 'fall into the wrong hands' (read: China's). This isn't a strategic partnership; it's a strategic extraction, dressed up in diplomatic niceties. One might wonder if the 'development' will extend to the average Congolese citizen, or merely to the shareholder portfolios in New York. History, and current poverty levels in
resource-rich nations, suggests the latter.