What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has protested the US labelling of child labour in mines, with Kinshasa saying the assessment does not take into account the steps taken to improve on the sector’s governance.

The reactions this week followed a US Department of Labour’s report that said cobalt ore from the DRC is on the 2024 list of goods produced by child or forced labour.

In an information note addressed to the DRC government and dated September 24, the US states that this mineral presents a high risk because it comes from artisanal mines. It also established a link between forced labour and artisanal and industrial mining.

But the Congolese government argued the report “deliberately ignores local realities and damages the international reputation of the Congolese mining sector.” In a press release, the Congolese government denounced the inclusion of Congo’s cobalt on the blacklist.

“It tends to call into question the effectiveness of international compliance control and supply chain due diligence mechanisms recognised in terms of human rights, labour and safety, to which manufacturers are rigorously subjected by independent international structures working directly with Western multinationals (European and American) to take account of end users,” the statement said.

• Read More