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?
Who does Democratic Republic of the Congo trade with now?
In the 1800s, Belgium exerted colonial control over the Congo through King Leopold II's personal rule, leading to atrocities and exploitation of the Congolese people for resources such as rubber and ivory.
Today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo trades with a variety of countries, including China, the United States, India, and the European Union. These trade relationships are more diversified and mutually beneficial compared to the exploitative relationship with Belgium in the 1800s. Congo is rich in natural resources such as cobalt, copper, and tantalum, which are in high demand globally for use in technology and manufacturing industries.