DRC: the inclusion of cobalt in the list of goods produced by child labor in the United States is worrying

2024-10-06 22:12:48

In September, the U.S. Department of Labor placed Congolese cobalt on the list of goods potentially produced by forced labor or child labor. In this country, the world’s main producer of cobalt, this measure has provoked a reaction from the authorities and civil society, who fear that this decision will scare investors.

From our correspondent in Lubumbashi,

In 2023, the DRC produced 170,000 tonnes of cobalt, a production that allowed it to maintain its position as leader around the world, but for how long? Joseph Dounia, a civil society actor based in Goma, fears that the US Department of Labor’s decision will have serious economic consequences on RDC. « All these measures, these directives, these sanctions against Congolese minerals prevent the creation of jobs and this prevents investors from arriving, warn. Because any entrepreneur who wants to invest in Congolese minerals will fear being included in the list UNITED STATES and theEuropean Union. And the United States must let the DRC make its own laws about its minerals and wealth. »

An opinion shared by Shadrack Mukad, member of the Understanding and Acting in Industrial and Artisanal Mines (Casmia) coalition. However, he is aware that multiple projects addressing child labor in mines have not produced the expected results. “ The projects have not resolved the fundamental issue, namely that of poverty, or the precarious living conditions in which families find themselves who let their children go to mining sites. “, he admits.

Read alsoDRC: alert on child labor in Lualaba and Upper Katanga mines

That was a decision will influence public opinion »

Since 2017, the Don’t touch my cobalt platform claims to have carried out various actions and even organized a field visit for an OECD delegation to avoid sanctions on Congolese cobalt. “ This is an alarm that must be taken into account because it will weigh on American and European public opinion who are the final consumers of products containing cobalt and copper from the DRC. The time has come to further protect cobalt, which is our strategic mineral », underlines Franck Fwamba, the director of the platform.

For their part, the Congolese authorities claim that efforts are being made to improve the cobalt supply chain. On September 30, during the DRC-US forum, Congolese Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku, provided an update. “ 95% of cobalt is exploited by publicly traded and internationally recognized industrial companies. Artisanal exploitation represents only 5% [des exploitations]and even this artisanal exploitation is not done by children » says the minister.

In a press release published at the end of last week, the spokesperson of the Congolese government regretted that this decision does not take into account the progress made and called on partners to intensify their technical and financial support.

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