Unnamed, DR Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo | Child Labor & Forced Labor | 60 drawing hours

Reference Photo by Johann Spanner

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, miners face dire conditions to meet the global demand for cobalt, a critical component in the batteries powering smartphones and electric vehicles. Despite the country holding an estimated $24 trillion in mineral wealth, including cobalt and coltan, nearly 40% of its population lives on less than $2.15 a day.

The Congo’s history of resource extraction is marked by exploitation, from King Leopold’s brutal rubber trade to uranium for nuclear development and now cobalt. This wealth has often been accompanied by systemic abuses, including forced and child labor, as well as exploitation by armed groups. In 2023, conflict displaced 6.9 million people in the Congo, heightening their vulnerability to modern slavery and further entrenching these issues.

The term “artisanal mining” might suggest small-scale, traditional practices, but the reality is far grimmer. As detailed in Siddharth Kara’s Cobalt Red, miners often dig by hand in hazardous conditions for meager pay.

Kara calls for urgent action, urging major companies such as Tesla, Apple, and BYD to adopt and enforce ethical sourcing practices in their supply chains. This advocacy highlights the need for consumer awareness and corporate accountability to ensure human rights are protected throughout the production of our everyday technologies.