Cell phones—it's hard to imagine life without them. But did you know that their manufacture has helped finance conflicts overseas?

What is Coltan?
Coltan, also known as tantalum, is a mineral used extensively in tech devices like cell phones, laptops, digital cameras and gaming systems—to name just a few.

With over three billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide and an increase in demand for other technologies using coltan, this resource has become very valuable.

Congo’s Mineral War
One region that has significant deposits of this precious mineral is the war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Unfortunately, many of these coltan deposits are located in rebel-controlled areas of eastern Congo, with various other armed groups fighting for control of the resources.

Armed groups list various causes for their involvement in the conflict. One rebel group states that it is fighting to restore justice for the Tutsi’s killed during the Rwandan genocide.

But many groups affected by the war believe the true cause is precious minerals such as coltan, which carry a huge price in the international market.

In fact, a United Nations investigation on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in eastern Congo found that its conflict revolved mainly around the “access, control and trade” of five major mineral resources, which are coltan, diamonds, copper, cobalt and gold.

People Displaced
The most recent round of fighting between various armed groups has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes.

Women and girls in the hundreds have been targets of opportunistic and brutal rape, while children are being targeted for recruitment or re-recruitment as child soldiers,

Humanitarian organizations report that since the war broke out in eastern Congo in 1998, over five million people have died—the largest documented death toll in a conflict since World War II.

Taking Action
As a result of its connection to conflict in eastern Congo, some companies have started to buy coltan from other sources. But the mining of coltan continues to play a significant role in this politically unstable area.

If you plan to buy a cell phone this Christmas, check with the phone manufacturer to see if it uses coltan from legitimate sources. Some manufacturers are making commitments to only use coltan that is mined legitimately.

For more information on the conflict in eastern Congo, click here.