Q3: Tantalum
Finally, write a short statement comparing the relationship between Belgium and the Congo in the 1800s and the Congo and who they trade with today.
What trading relationship did the Congo and Belgium have in the 1800s?
What trading relationship do they have now?
In the 1800s, Belgium ruled the Congo as a colony and exploited its resources, including minerals like tantalum, for their own economic gain. This was a one-sided, exploitative relationship where the Congo faced significant exploitation and brutality under Belgian rule.
Today, the Congo trades with various countries and multinational corporations for tantalum and other resources. This trading relationship is more complex and diversified, with multiple countries and companies involved in the trade of tantalum from the Congo. While there are still challenges with regards to fair trade practices and environmental sustainability, the trading relationship today is more decentralized and involves a wider range of actors compared to the colonial era.