Congolese writer Marc Kanyinda, author of La implacable Kinshasa (The Relentless Kinshasa), gave a lecture on the Congo's strategic minerals at the Karibuni Library. The event was attended by around 30 people, mostly young people, specialising in various subjects.
On 30 November 2025, the Karibuni Library (Congo) hosted a meeting with writer Marc Kanyinda to learn more about the value of minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In his presentation, the author urged Congolese people to take ownership of their country's history and geopolitics and to reject ignorance in the face of international greed. He recalled how the Congolese people suffered at a time when Europe was looking for rubber to manufacture tires for the first cars: ‘It was a time when you risked losing your hand if the day's harvest was insufficient. Today, once again, the taxes and suffering are immense, especially in Kivu, where minerals are abundant.’
The Democratic Republic of Congo is at the centre of international greed due to its strategic minerals. The country has exceptional reserves of cobalt, copper and lithium, which are essential for the global energy transition and new technologies.
Why are these minerals so sought after?
According to the author, this demand is due to the pressing need for cobalt worldwide, with the DRC accounting for around 74% of global production. This metal is vital for electric vehicle batteries, mobile phones and laptops.
Added to this are two crucial resources: copper, with the country being one of the world's top five producers and which is indispensable for electricity grids and renewable energies; and lithium, with the Manono deposit, one of the most abundant in the world, essential for rechargeable batteries and new-generation energy storage.
The DRC is also rich in gold, coltan (used in electronic capacitors), zinc and manganese. ‘These resources make the country a geological treasure trove, but they also arouse the greed of powers and multinationals seeking to secure access to them in order to dominate the markets. This race for minerals is, in fact, one of the causes of the conflicts that have ravaged eastern Congo for thirty years.’
The paradox is that, despite this wealth, the country continues to face poverty and instability. Hence Marc Kanyinda's call to ‘know our minerals, understand their value and reject ignorance. Because only an informed population can transform this wealth into real development.’ He also made a strong call to strive for excellence in all areas, in all professions, aware that everyone must do their bit.
Washington Agreements
On 4 December 2025, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame signed a peace agreement in Washington, under the auspices of US President Donald Trump, which was presented as historic. "However, we are sorry to say that these agreements will not bring peace to the DRC. In the east of the country, violence continues, mutual accusations persist, and mineral exploitation prolongs rivalries. As in the past with colonisation, history repeats itself: under the shadow of greed, peace remains elusive," added the author.
The event ended with a writing workshop and a performance by two slammers (poets), who conveyed the anguish, cries and tears of a martyred population through their songs and poetry.
The day took place in a pleasant atmosphere and concluded with a cocktail party hosted by the author. It was an intense encounter, where culture, youth and civic awareness came together.
Laurette Mondzola.
TA Translation Team.
Published in News