Deadly Collapses in Congo’s Coltan Mines Expose Global Tech Supply Chain Risks

The recent landslide collapse at a major coltan mine in eastern Congo that claimed at least 200 lives shines a harsh spotlight on the dangerous realities fueling the global tech industry—and by extension, American national security. This disaster is not an isolated event but the latest in a series of deadly cave-ins tied to rebel-controlled mines that provide critical minerals used in U.S. electronics and defense systems. Who Pays When Rebels Control Mines Serving Global Powers? Since May 2024, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group seized control of key mines near Rubaya, including those producing coltan—an ore essential for tantalum and...