The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), rich in minerals like gold, copper, and cobalt, has been the subject of intense global exploitation since 1885, when King Leopold II of Belgium colonized the region. Over the years, both Western powers and Eastern nations, along with African elites, have fought to control its vast resources, leading to centuries of violence, forced labor, and political instability. Despite the DRC’s $24 trillion worth of natural wealth, its population has suffered from poverty, conflict, and human rights abuses, as foreign corporations and neighboring countries continue to profit from its resources while the people endure immense hardship.
