As the United States eyes a new minerals-for-security deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), experts are sounding the alarm. Without proper safeguards, this move could fuel an increase in forced and child labor in the country’s unregulated mining sector.

The DRC is a major global supplier of cobalt and copper. These minerals are essential to electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and defense technologies. However, though large mining corporations operate in the country, it’s the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector that raises the biggest concerns.

“Child labor continues to be a real issue in the copper/cobalt space,” said David Sturmes of the Fair Cobalt Alliance. “Child labor remediation—meaning long-term systemic support—is key.”

US decreases regulatory support while pursuing investment

Efforts to formalize the sector do exist. Earlier this year, the Congolese government updated its mining law to allow companies with industrial permits to integrate artisanal miners onto their concessions in partnership with Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC), a state-owned entity.

According to EGC CEO Eric Kalala, these grants have unfortunately been cut. Without continuous support from governments and international organizations, the responsibility of safeguarding miners’ rights falls once more on underfunded local systems and on companies that have not yet demonstrated their ability to act independently and responsibly.

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