- The Democratic Republic of Congo is arguably one of the most strategically important countries in the world in terms of mineral resources
- DR Congo is home to many precious minerals such as cobalt, lithium, tantalum, gold, diamond, and more estimated to be worth over $24 trillion
- However, a vast majority of people do not know that the tantalum used to make parts of their mobile phones may have originated from the DR Congo
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Many people are not aware that the smartphone they use daily might well contain a precious stone from a mine in eastern DR Congo.
Often, people are not aware that their solar or electric car batteries may have been made with cobalt from DR Congo.
DR Congo is a major export of tantalum and cobalt. Photo credit: Getty Images/Alex Broadway, Nada Bascarevic and RossHelen.Source: Getty Images
The Democratic Republic of Congo is so blessed with mineral resources that some estimates put its worth at $24 trillion.
Many countries of the world depend on minerals from DR Congo for their high-tech manufacturing industries.
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DR Congo is located in central Africa and it shares borders with the Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania (across Lake Tanganyika), Zambia, Angola and the South Atlantic Ocean.
TheTalk.NG presents four interesting facts about DR Congo regarded as the richest country on earth in terms of minerals.
1. What are the mineral resources in DR Congo?
The reason DR Congo is known as the richest nation on earth is because of its vast amount of mineral resources.
DR Congo is home to copper, cobalt, zinc, uranium, diamonds, tantalum, and many more rare minerals.
Most of the mineral deposits in DR Congo are still untapped and some estimates put the worth at $24 trillion dollars
2. Tantalum and lithium, two important minerals from DR Congo
You may wonder why DR Congo is always mentioned when there is a discussion about the manufacturing of smartphones.
It’s because the country is the world’s largest exporter of tantalum, a very important element used to make parts of smartphones and other capacitors.
As stated earlier, there are chances that your smartphone contains a chip of tantalum from DR Congo.
According to statistics, in 2023, DR Congo exported 980 metric tons worth of tantalum. Phone makers depend on tantalum.
3. Cobalt from DR Congo used to make lithium-ion batters
Another important mineral element found in DR Congo is cobalt which is used for the manufacturing of electric car batteries.
Dr Congo is the world’s largest exporter of cobalt with over 86,000 metric tons of the mineral coming from the country in 2020.
Makers of electric car batters as well as solar batteries rely on this essential mineral.
4. Why is there conflict in DR Congo?
At the moment, there is an escalating crisis in eastern DR Congo where these natural resources are domiciled.
There are many armed groups in the region and they are reportedly fighting for control of mining areas.
More than 700 people have been killed in fighting in 2025 alone, according to the UN.
The major armed group, M23 has since seized Goma, one of the largest cities in DR Congo. The group is allegedly being backed by Rwanda.
Things to know about Nigeria’s national anthem
In a related story, TheTalk.NG reported that President Bola Tinubu signed the bill reinstating the old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” into law.
This was announced by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a joint session of the senate and house of representatives on Wednesday, May 29.
The anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was Nigeria’s first national anthem from 1960 until 1978, with lyrics by Lillian Jean Williams and music by Frances Berda.
Source: TheTalk.NG
