DRC human rights officials alert UN to terror and child labor in mining zones

Human rights representatives have alerted the United Nations regarding severe abuses and systemic exploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). During sessions at the UN, officials reported that areas under the control of the Congo River Alliance-March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) are experiencing a “deliberate strategy of terror,” including killings, arbitrary detentions, and illegal taxation of civilians.

The conflict is heavily driven by the illegal exploitation of mineral resources such as cassiterite, coltan, and gold. Armed groups reportedly coerce artisanal miners to extract these materials, which are then laundered through various collection centers to fund weapons purchases and child recruitment.

Additionally, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has raised alarms at the UN Human Rights Council regarding the persistence of child labor in artisanal mining zones. Experts emphasize that addressing this issue requires oversight of the entire global value chain—from extraction in the DRC to international markets and manufacturing industries—to ensure compliance with international labor standards and protect children from exploitation.