Why are Katanga’s mineral deposits important to the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

The mineral deposits in the Katanga region are vital to the Democratic Republic of the Congo because they serve as the primary driver of the nation's economy. Mining in this region produces nearly nine-tenths of the country’s total exports.1

The region is exceptionally rich in diverse resources, including copper, cobalt, uranium, zinc, gold, silver, cadmium, germanium, coal, manganese, and tin. These deposits are found within the Katangan Complex, a vast array of Precambrian rocks that are of immense economic significance.213

Beyond their direct export value, these resources have historically shaped the country's development. The abundance of minerals in Katanga was a primary factor that attracted European powers to the region in the 19th century. Furthermore, the mining industry has fostered the growth of complex transportation and communications networks, making Katanga the most highly industrialized region in the country outside of Kinshasa, the national capital.12