The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), home to some of the world’s largest reserves of cobalt and copper, continues to face scrutiny over how its mineral wealth is managed and traded. In late August 2025, U.S. authorities reaffirmed sanctions on cooperatives and intermediaries accused of fueling conflict in eastern Congo through the illicit trade of critical minerals. These sanctions target networks that allegedly channel revenues from cobalt and copper mining into financing armed groups, perpetuating cycles of instability despite global demand for these minerals in clean energy and high-tech supply chains.
The measures underscore ongoing concerns about transparency and governance in the DRC’s mining sector. While the government has tried to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining through cooperatives, weak oversight and porous borders have made it difficult to separate legitimate supply from conflict-linked flows. For international buyers, this creates reputational and compliance risks, as supply chains that are not fully traceable can run afoul of U.S. or EU regulations on conflict minerals. The sanctions are therefore not only punitive but also a signal to global companies that due diligence in sourcing remains non-negotiable.
At a broader level, the continued sanctioning of Congolese cooperatives reflects the strategic tension between securing access to critical minerals and upholding ethical standards in their production. The DRC is indispensable to the global cobalt supply, and instability in its eastern regions poses a direct challenge to the resilience of battery and renewable energy value chains. By maintaining pressure on questionable actors, Washington aims to both curb armed financing and push for more responsible sourcing frameworks, though this also raises questions about how sanctions might affect local livelihoods in one of the poorest regions of the world.