The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of the most resource-rich countries in the world. The region is rich in gold, diamonds, uranium and other extremely profitable minerals. So why are so many people in the country forced to live in fear and misery? Produced by RT documentary extravaganza Congo, My Precious shows how the benefits of these resources can become a curse for a large portion of the country’s struggling and exhausted population.
Congo’s history has long been tainted by greed, tragedy and bloodshed. Under King Leopold II of Belgium, their mines were operated in a similar fashion to slave camps, where workers were brutally abused if they did not meet their daily quotas. The country finally gained independence in 1960, much to the relief of its citizens.
That year saw the birth of the film’s central interview subject, a husband and father named Bernard Callum Bullery. Unfortunately for Buleri and countless others, all the promises of independence proved meaningless and hollow. In his candid and vulnerable testimony, he spoke of his torment in his homeland, his love for his family, and his previous experience during the Rwandan genocide with some of the most poignant anecdotes you’re likely to hear.
Militant insurgents routinely and illegally confiscate the country’s mines, committing heinous acts of violence and human rights abuses. Their mining operations often use child labor, including those involving coltan, a valuable mineral used in a variety of the world’s most popular electronics. Rebel factions can earn up to $120 per kilogram of mineral mined, but their exploited workers survive on just $10 a week. “The beneficiaries are still mainly foreigners, and we are as poor as ever,” explained a Congolese mining executive.
Congo, My Baby is an incredibly powerful portrait of human suffering. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, his subjects long for a normal life free from horror and insurmountable economic hardship.
Directed by: Anastasia Trofimova
