U.S. Strengthens Governance in DRC to Secure Supply Chains of Critical Minerals
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a country rich in mineral resources, with a mining potential estimated at 24,000 billion US dollars. However, the exploitation of these critical minerals has often been marred by human rights abuses and child labor. To ensure a reliable supply of minerals from the DRC, the United States has introduced a new law aimed at strengthening governance in the country.
This law, entitled “Bridge to DRC”, was submitted to the House of Representatives on July 12, 2023. It aims to ban the import of Congolese products containing minerals essential to the electric vehicle sector, due to the exploitation of children by China. James, U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, underscored the importance of this engagement to bolster U.S. national security.
China, which controls the majority of DRC’s cobalt mines, is a key player in the electric vehicle industry due to growing demand for lithium-ion batteries. However, the working conditions in these mines have been criticized, especially with regard to child labor. By banning the import of products containing these minerals, the United States hopes to highlight the importance of human rights and democracy when it comes to strengthening relations with the DRC.
This initiative aims to protect essential supply chains of critical minerals from harmful Chinese influences and to encourage Kinshasa to meet specific human rights and democratic criteria. This is an important step to ensure transparency and accountability in the exploitation of natural resources in the DRC, while promoting sustainable and ethical development.
In conclusion, the DRC Governance Enhancement Act demonstrates the United States’ commitment to securing its critical mineral supply chains and promoting responsible practices in the Congolese mining industry. This measure aims to ensure reliable access to these resources while protecting the rights of workers and encouraging the DRC to adopt higher standards of human rights and democracy