ONE WORLD | Of Mud and Blood

Deep in the mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo lies eighty per cent of the world’s coltan, a key raw material for our technological world. For decades, this local “grey gold” has been the cause of conflict and exploitation, endless work in dangerous conditions, and a source of gold-digging dreams. A dark past of wars, child soldiers, and the decimation of the local population stands in sharp contrast to the area’s lovely nature and fairytale wealth. Paradoxically, mineral resources become a curse that keeps the locals in check. The long journey of coltan from the muddy, bloodied hands of miners to the London Stock Exchange documents colonial practices that we unwittingly participate in.