Conflict Minerals
Conflict minerals - gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten, used mainly in electronics, jewelry, and cars - have been a primary driver of armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo for the past two decades. Over 5 million people have died in these horrific conflicts. I have spent over a decade, mainly with the Enough Project and The Sentry, traveling to eastern Congo to document this trade and working to help end it through policy and supply chain reforms. There has been some progress, but there’s still a long way to go, particularly on gold.
The photos below take you on the journey of conflict gold - what some call the “new blood diamonds” - from mines to export.
Child miners digging for gold, Kaniola, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo. This mine was controlled by an armed group.
Soldier from an armed group (ex-CNDP) in gold mining community, eastern DR Congo
Child miner at a gold mine, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Soldiers of an armed group (ex-CNDP) survey a gold mine they controlled at the time, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Dangerous artisanal gold mining shaft, eastern DR Congo
Artisanal gold mine controlled by an armed group, Kaniola, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Miner panning for gold, eastern DR Congo
Artisanal gold miners, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Local mining boss at standing on a cliff next to a gold mine, Kaniola, eastern DR Congo
Boys standing in front of a village that had been attacked by the FDLR rebel group in a gold mining area, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Small gold dust and nuggets assembled from gold mine taken to be sold, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Artisanal mining boss sells gold nuggets for cash (US dollars) to a local trader (negociant) just outside a gold mine, eastern DR Congo
Gold dust in weighing scales, Bukavu, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Gold trader (negociant) sorting gold dust, Bukavu, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Melting gold dust and nuggets together in a small furnace to make doré bars, Bukavu, eastern DR Congo. Conflict gold can be mixed with non-conflict gold here to mask its origins.
Gold nuggets melted at 1950 degrees F to make gold doré bars and poured into a pan, Bukavu, eastern DR Congo
Gold doré bar once it has come out of the furnace, Bukavu, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Gold doré bars, Bukavu, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Actor Mia Farrow visiting a gold mine in eastern DR Congo, with activist Fidel Bafilemba. Fidel and I were fortunate to take Mia around a gold mining community to raise awareness about conflict gold.
Women carrying heavy loads of charcoal up a hill near a gold mine, South Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Tantalum ore (coltan), eastern DR Congo
Miners mining for tantalum ore on a hill, North Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Miners mining for tantalum ore, North Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Weighing tantalum ore, North Kivu, eastern DR Congo
Miner using mechanized equipment, tin mine, Rwanda
Miners resting after a day's work in the mine shafts, Rwanda
Mine shaft with electricity and tracks - a significant step up from those in eastern Congo. Rwanda