US and EU critical minerals project could displace thousands in DR Congo – report

A US and EU-backed infrastructure project, the Lobito Corridor, intended to facilitate the export of critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, risks displacing up to 6,500 people in the DRC. The project aims to upgrade the Benguela railway and related infrastructure to transport minerals like copper and cobalt, crucial for green energy technologies, to Angola's coast. Global Witness reports that the railway rehabilitation from Kolwezi to the Angolan border could lead to the demolition of up to 1,200 buildings, primarily in the Bel Air neighborhood of Kolwezi, where many residents have built homes and businesses near the long-unused railway line. The project is being developed by Lobito Atlantic Railway, a consortium that won a 30-year concession in 2023. While the government considers residents within the railway buffer zone "illegals," local leaders dispute this characterization, noting the long-term presence of these communities.

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