Sifting Through the Wreckage of Congo’s Conflict Economy

Just stumbled upon this vice reportage of a trip to the coltan mines of Congo, and a visit to the FDLR and Mai Mai rebel groups. It’s a bit of crazy journey, and it seems that these guys arrive as a bunch of Westerners not really knowing what they are getting into, but as the tension increases and things get a bit more dangerous and chaotic they learn quickly.

Yes, DRC is not an easy place, and it’s not a place you’d just want to walk into. Interesting to see how the languages changes as well, from English, French, to Kirwanda and Kiswahili with the Mai Mai. Congo is a diverse place and as these guys rightly say .. there are no easy answers. Period.

Check out theses videos …

… and read the full story with some historical details here.

via Vice
Photos by Tim Freccia