Ebony M 

Collegiate Research Paper  

International Business 

09/30/2025 

The #FreeCongo Movement 

Central Problem: The Ethical Dilemma  

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is an ethical dilemma that has been going on for decades. “The conflict, which has persisted in the east of the DRC for almost 30 years, and is the deadliest since the Second World War, is mainly economic,” explains Nobel Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege. Since 1996, more than 10 million people have been killed, with countless more being displaced, raped, or forcibly recruited (even as children) into armed groups. “The link between exploitation and the illegal trade in minerals is recognized as a root cause.” (Resilience, 2024) Although the #FreeCongo movement is not specific to one singular dilemma or event, the trademark is most widely known to be used in reference to the ethical crisis of extracting cobalt and minerals.  

Colbalt is a shiny-gray mineral that is a critical component for the creation of lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and other portable devices. The ethical issue with the extraction of this mineral in the Democratic Republic of Kongo is in the legality of how it is obtained. Colbalt is mined out of the Earth through traditional methods like underground and/or open-pit mining. This mining poses risks to both the local environment and to human labor rights. Because of the DRC’s lax laws on labor, its citizens are subjected to hazardous working/living conditions, forced labor, illness/injury, and a plethora of other unfavorable conditions. However, the most harrowing of all being forced child labor.  

The global demand for Colbalt raises an ethical dilemma for corporations who utilize it for their business, corporate social responsibility or profit driven exploitation. Unfortunately, it is the latter that usually wins in a capitalistic society. Thus, birthing the #FreeCongo movement whose overall initiative is to; “provide food and community media skills in camps for Internally Displaced People in conflict zones, deliver cutting-edge reporting from the frontlines of the conflict in the east of the DRC, increase awareness of land rights to defend against land grabs, rescue children from the cobalt mines and support diggers and miners demanding accountability, organize forest protectors across the Congo Basin rainforest facing intense challenges from extractive industries, advocate for Indigenous and local knowledge to be respected, respond to emergencies from the climate crisis, advocate for democratic governance and community solutions, and combat sexual violence/provide care for women’s health.” (“Congo Campaigns #FreeTheCongo,” n.d.) 

With the Congo housing nearly 70% of the world’s Colbalt supply, it has also created a global reliance on the DRC and its minerals. International corporations are buying up local land, forcing displacement, increasing the child mortality rate, and contributing directly to poverty cycles all in the name of corporate profits. This directly ties into another international business topic, known as The Stakeholder Theory. “Stakeholder Theory is a view of capitalism that stresses the interconnected relationships between a business and its customers, suppliers, employees, investors, communities and others who have a stake in the organization. The theory argues that a firm should create value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.” (“About | Stakeholder theory,” n.d.) This is pertinent to this dilemma because it literally tests the theory for corporations in real time. Multiple large companies have come under fire after being exposed for investing or contributing directly to these conditions. The most easily recognizable being Apple Inc. “In a statement, the lawyers for the DR Congo talked about Apple’s supply chain being contaminated with “blood minerals”. They allege that the tin, tantalum and tungsten is taken from conflict areas and then “laundered through international supply chains”. “These activities have fuelled a cycle of violence and conflict by financing militias and terrorist groups and have contributed to forced child labor and environmental devastation.” Apple rejected the accusations saying it holds its “suppliers to the highest standards in industry”. (“Apple accused by DR Congo of using conflict minerals,” 2024) 

Country Profile  

One may find themselves curious how a country and its government could allow such conditions. The Democratic Republic of Congo is unfortunately politically unstable. It is riddled with corruption and has a robust history of civil war. This directly leads to a weak rule of law, thus, being unable to regulate the mining industry effectively. Despite the globe’s reliance on the DRC’s Colbalt mining, the DRC is still classified as a developing/low-income country.  

The DRC’s GDP per capita is extremely low and relies heavily on external debt and The World Bank. It attracts FDI because of minerals, but investors are often scared away by the country’s corrupt nature. “Corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is an endemic problem, and seriously hinders businesses operating in the country. It permeates all levels of government and all sectors of the economy, rendering the country’s investment climate as one of the least competitive in the world. Clientelism, rent-seeking, and patronage have decimated fair competition, particularly in the sectors of public procurement and extractive industries. Corruption has also impeded efforts to increase the transparency of government institutions.” (“Democratic Republic of the Congo country risk report | GAN integrity,” 2020) 

The DRC’s high youth population, low literacy rates, and severe poverty are all social indicators of a struggling nation. Despite what most would like to believe, that the DRC is solely responsible for its position, it’s actually a glowing indicator of gross imbalance in the countries trade balances. How could the country that supplies 70% of the world’s Cobalt be so impoverished? The answer goes back to our earlier discussion of how ethics is a major factor in the day-to-day life in the DRC. Congo’s “Mineral Curse” puts Congo in the crossfire for business standoffs, political and geographical tensions, and land theft. “The instability in Congo is inseparable from its substantial mineral wealth. The country hosts more than 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves, along with copper, coltan, and lithium, which are essential for electric vehicles and other renewable energy technologies. Rather than serving as a pathway to prosperity, these resources have become both a magnet for conflict and a fault line for geopolitical rivalry. Additionally, M23 rebels frequently target mining routes in North Kivu, cutting off humanitarian access and exploiting resources to finance operations, while weak governance allows corruption and the mismanagement of resources.” (“Congo’s mineral curse fuels US-China rivalry,” n.d.) 

IB Analysis 

Stakeholder Theory, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Global Supply Chain Ethics are most visible in this scenario. As it is easy to recognize and point out the humanitarian crisis in the DRC because it permeates the entire country on every level. From business to politics. Although there are some counter thinkers when it comes to this situation that attempt to spin these human atrocities into corporate wins (profit) while simultaneously ignoring how their explotive actions directly keep DRC underdeveloped. “The DRC is emblematic of what economists call the “resource curse” — the paradox where resource-rich countries often experience slower economic growth, weaker development, and heightened conflict compared to their resource-poor counterparts. Instead of fostering prosperity, Congo’s natural wealth has fueled corruption, warlords, and a cycle of violence that leaves its citizens destitute. For decades, its vast resources have been siphoned off by multinational corporations, neighboring countries, and local elites. Coltan, a mineral critical for smartphones and electronics, flows from Congolese mines into global supply chains, enriching foreign economies while leaving Congolese miners to toil in appalling conditions. Children as young as seven dig in perilous pits for a few dollars a day, while the profits flow far away to tech giants.” (Kamoga, 2024) 

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s ethical dilemma is a great example of how profit can drive inequity and imbalance, particularly, in underdeveloped countries that have access to resources but little guardrails for keeping them protected. The companies choose to focus on short term gain rather than long term sustainability which is a direct violation of Corporate Responsibility. As an underdeveloped country, the DRC has little to no oversight which would normally provide some level of oversight or transparency of records. This, again, leaves the DRC and its citizens completely vulnerable and at the will of the corporations and their own social responsibility. “U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on entities linked to armed group violence and the sale of critical minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  Eastern DRC has experienced thousands of civilian deaths and a mass displacement crisis due to ongoing instability, which has been exacerbated recently by the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement’s (M23) territorial control and reprisal attacks from DRC-aligned militias.  M23, a U.S.- and United Nations-designated armed group, has rapidly expanded its territorial control in eastern DRC and is responsible for human rights abuses. Today’s sanctions specifically target one of these armed groups involved in illegal mining operations and taxation schemes in Rubaya, an expansive mining area rich in critical minerals used in modern electronics.  Additionally, today’s action targets companies in the DRC and China that are engaged in trading conflict-linked minerals from the DRC on international markets, often through Rwanda.” (“Treasury sanctions entities linked to violence and illegal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” n.d.) 

In conclusion, The DRC’s Cobalt Mining business is an extensive example of a modern day central ethical issue. It highlights the importance of corporate responsibility and indirectly pinpoints the pangs of what a lack of corporate responsibility in International Business can look like. The goal of the #FreeCongo movement is to raise awarenes, thus, forcing visibility of the atrocities the Congo is facing with the hopes of corporations responding appropriately and effectively to repair the current, for profit, corporate attitude.  

Despite its most recent efforts, it’s worth mentioning that the lawsuit that the Congo had against multiple tech giants recently failed. Setting up the Congo to continue its ongoing fight for human rights, labor laws, and ultimately corporate responsibility. “In the document seen by Reuters and dated February 18, the Paris prosecutor’s office said allegations of money laundering and deceptive business practices were “not sufficiently well-founded” and closed the case – meaning it will not proceed with the complaint. The office invited Congo to contact a different office “with jurisdiction over war crimes”. The prosecutor’s office and Apple did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursday. William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, lawyers working for Congo in France, described the decision as a “very partial dismissal” that they intended to challenge, citing the “extreme seriousness of the facts denounced and the need to identify and prosecute those responsible.” (“Reuters.com,” n.d.) 

References 

About | Stakeholder theory. (n.d.). Stakeholder Theory. https://stakeholdertheory.org/about/ 

Apple accused by DR Congo of using conflict minerals. (2024, December 17). BBC Breaking News, World News, US News, Sports, Business, Innovation, Climate, Culture, Travel, Video & Audio. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8g540wz3jo 

Congo Campaigns #FreeTheKongo. (n.d.). https://friendsofthecongo.org/campaigns/ 

Congo’s mineral curse fuels US-China rivalry. (n.d.). Lowy Institute. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/congo-s-mineral-curse-fuels-us-china-rivalry 

Democratic Republic of the Congo country risk report | GAN integrity. (2020, November 4). GAN Integrity: Ethics & Compliance Management Software. https://www.ganintegrity.com/country-profiles/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ 

Kamoga, J. (2024, November 16). The natural resource curse: Why Congo’s Riches keep it poor. Medium. https://medium.com/@johnckamoga/the-natural-resource-curse-why-congos-riches-keep-it-poor-4badce9fc4cb 

Resilience. (2024, June 17). Break the silence, free Congo. resilience. https://www.resilience.org/stories/2024-06-17/break-the-silence-free-congo/ 

Reuters.com. (n.d.). reuters.com. https://www.reuters.com/technology/paris-prosecutor-closes-case-against-apple-over-congo-minerals-document-2025-02-27/ 

Treasury sanctions entities linked to violence and illegal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (n.d.). U.S. Department of the Treasury. https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0221