Guerrilla History Mining the Congo w/ Josaphat Musamba, Germain Ngoie Tshibambe, & Ben Radley (AR&D Ep.10)
Oct 31, 2025
Join Ben Radley, a lecturer and Congo mining expert, alongside Josaphat Musamba, a Congolese researcher and miner, as they dive into the complex world of mining in the Congo. They explore the stark differences between artisanal and industrial mining, labor conditions, and the environmental toll of extraction. Josaphat shares his personal journey through mining and community resistance efforts, while Ben discusses the geopolitical competition surrounding cobalt and other resources. The conversation reveals a deep impact on local communities and the urgent need for reform.
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From Gatekeeper To Scholar
- Josaphat mined gold in Kamituga between roughly 2001–2004 and started as an assistant and gatekeeper.
- He learned practical techniques on site and later pursued academic research on artisanal supply chains.
Deep Precolonial Roots And Colonial Rupture
- Pre-colonial mining in Congo existed and shaped local economies long before Europeans arrived.
- Colonial capitalism rapidly transformed extractive relations, concentrating profits abroad and exploiting Congolese labor.
Colonial Mining’s Superprofits Were Built On Coercion
- Belgian firms like Minière des Grands Lacs earned enormous profits from eastern Congo in early 20th century.
- Those profits relied on underpaid, abused Congolese labor and brutal coercive practices.
