Conflict, Resource Exploitation, and Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Distr.: General | February 26, 2026 Sixty-first session | Agenda item 9

I. Introduction

1. This report addresses the surge in violence in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri. The crisis is characterized by the proliferation of over 120 armed groups, the most prominent being the M23, which has expanded its territorial control throughout 2025 and early 2026.

2. The mission finds a direct causal link between the global demand for "transition minerals" (coltan, cobalt, and lithium) and the financing of mass atrocities, including forced labor, child soldier recruitment, and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

   
   

II. Findings on Resource-Driven Conflict and Atrocities

3. The "Mineral-War" Nexus: Armed groups have seized control of strategic mining sites, using the proceeds to procure advanced weaponry. In many instances, the Task Force has documented "slave-like" conditions in artisanal mines, where civilians are forced to work at gunpoint to meet global supply chain demands.

4. Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV): There has been a verified 60% increase in cases of sexual violence used as a tactic to displace populations from mineral-rich land. These acts are frequently accompanied by extreme brutality intended to shatter the social fabric of local communities.

5. Internal Displacement: As of February 2026, the DRC hosts over 7.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). Camps for the displaced have become targets for shelling and forced recruitment, leaving millions without basic security or the right to food and water.

III. Legal Analysis: Corporate and State Accountability

6. Under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, corporations have a legal and moral obligation to ensure their operations do not contribute to conflict. The continued "laundering" of conflict minerals through neighboring transit countries constitutes a violation of international sanctions regimes.

7. The failure to protect civilians in the east, despite the presence of regional and international forces, raises significant questions regarding the legal "Duty to Care" and the effectiveness of current peacekeeping mandates.

IV. Legal Recommendations

• Mandatory Due Diligence Laws: Member states should enact legislation requiring technology and automotive companies to perform forensic audits of their supply chains. Failure to exclude "blood minerals" should result in heavy corporate fines and potential criminal liability for executives under national laws.

• Specialized Criminal Tribunal: Advocate for the establishment of a "Hybrid Court for the DRC" to prosecute both domestic warlords and international actors who profit from the illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources.

• Redefining Peacekeeping Mandates: The UN Security Council must shift the mandate of regional forces from "stability maintenance" to "active civilian protection," with a specific legal focus on securing mining perimeters from armed group influence.

• Reparations via Mineral Wealth: Propose a legal framework where a percentage of all official mineral export duties is directed into a National Victims Fund, overseen by international monitors to ensure transparency and direct support for CRSV survivors.

V. Conclusion

The tragedy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not a natural disaster; it is a commercially fueled catastrophe. As the world transitions to green energy, it cannot do so on the backs of forced labor and the systematic violation of Congolese lives. True peace in the DRC requires more than a ceasefire; it requires a fundamental restructuring of how the world values human rights against the price of raw materials.