"Human Rights Violations: Forced Evictions Plague DRC's Cobalt and Copper Mines"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Amnesty International
The expansion of industrial-scale cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has resulted in forced evictions, sexual assault, arson, and beatings, according to a report by Amnesty International and Initiative pour la Bonne Gouvernance et les Droits Humains (IBGDH). Multinational companies seeking to expand mining operations have forced communities from their homes and farmland, leading to grievous human rights abuses. The demand for cobalt and copper, essential for rechargeable batteries used in electric cars and mobile phones, has created a scramble for these metals, causing further exploitation and violations of human rights in the DRC.