Sexual Violence, Coltan and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Towards a radical digital citizenship in digital education

“…Columbo-tantalite, or coltan, is a 'black metallic grit' that is obtained by 'panning' from alluvial or riverine deposits typically in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (Whitman, 2012). From this exported grit, the element tantalum is extracted by companies in various countries.…”

“…From this exported grit, the element tantalum is extracted by companies in various countries. Tantalum is used in digital communication devices -such as laptops, tablets and particularly 3G and 4G phones -because its robustness across a range of temperatures and ability to store and release electric charge are properties that are required for the production of capacitors in the microchips of such devices (Whitman, 2012;Nest, 2011). Currently, there is no like-for-like industrial substitute for it, which is why it has euphemistically been called a 'strategic mineral' by the US Department of Defence.…”

“…Control over the lucrative coltan is a prime objective of armed groups in the DRC, who are estimated to earn $8 million per year from its trade (Whitman 2012, p. 135). Increases in consumer demand for this resource, associated with the release of various consumer products such as laptops and games consoles, has therefore been indirectly linked to civil war, mass atrocities and associated sexual violence in the Eastern region of the DRC (MacIver, 2012;Whitman, 2012). Due to the complexity of supply chains, Whitman (2012) suggests that by the time coltan reaches refining companies in Europe and Asia, it is virtually impossible to distinguish 'clean' from 'dirty' tantalum.…”

“…Increases in consumer demand for this resource, associated with the release of various consumer products such as laptops and games consoles, has therefore been indirectly linked to civil war, mass atrocities and associated sexual violence in the Eastern region of the DRC (MacIver, 2012;Whitman, 2012). Due to the complexity of supply chains, Whitman (2012) suggests that by the time coltan reaches refining companies in Europe and Asia, it is virtually impossible to distinguish 'clean' from 'dirty' tantalum. Despite these atrocities, its trade continues unabated due to growth markets in China, India and Russia, and 'because of the direction in which manufactured goods tend to flow, much of this coltan is likely still finding its way into goods destined for consumers in the global North' (MacIver, 2012, p. 167).…”