The Democratic Republic of the Congo's history of resource exploitation is firmly embedded in its historical legacy as a colony. During King Leopold II's personal reign of the Congo Free State (1885–1908), the exploitation of resources was characterized by brutal conditions, including the forced labour of millions to harvest rubber and other products, killing millions of Congolese in the process. This exploitative and violent system formed the basis of a decades-long pattern of structural violence associated with the exploitation of resources, which continues to shape the social-political context of the region to this day.

After she won its independence in 1960, the DRC had a weak and corrupted political system, which became worse under President Mobutu Sese Seko's reign (1965–1997). Mobutu established a regime that not only institutionalized corruption but also opened exploitation of the nation's natural resources by both national elites and foreigners. His regime was marked by chaos and crisis, triggering the First and Second Congo Wars (1996-2003), where various armed factions and foreign states participated in a competition to plunder the country's vast mineral resources, such as diamonds, coltan, and gold. This exploitative conflict dynamic continues up to today, whereby foreign firms and militias reap profits from the natural wealth of the DRC, reproducing cycles of violence and underdevelopment.

The Congolese state, as the official custodian of natural wealth in its domain, has never really been in control of its natural wealth's extraction. Historically, the Congolese state has been weak, disorganized, and riddled with corruption and unable to ensure proper regulation, let alone oversight, over mining (Nzongola-Ntalaja, 2002). Although the state formally has an interest in using natural wealth for state development, its interest is frequently negated by political instability and systematic corruption. One key challenge for the state is managing the interests of foreign investors, national elites, and other players in the international community while making sure that resource revenues benefit the public.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) have a dominant position in resource extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mining companies namely those engaged in extracting coltan, cobalt, and gold are mainly guided by profit-maximizing motives. MNCs usually have an operational context in which regulatory regimes do not exist or remain weak. The motivations of MNCs centre upon gaining access to inexpensive resources and low-cost operation. They have an interest in controlling key mining operations, frequently in concert with local elites or militias. Most MNCs have been accused of taking advantage of violence and instability in the area, which tends to enable them to have access to resources without the scrutiny and regulation they would receive in more stable areas (Kelly, 2014).

Armed forces, militias, and local warlords have been major players in conflict-ridden resource extraction in the DRC. These forces regularly occupy rich mining locations, using violence and intimidation to extract resources. Armed forces commonly support themselves through selling minerals, including gold, diamonds, and coltan, which they sell in overseas markets. This establishes a direct connection between resource extraction and perpetuating armed conflict. The motivations of militias in the DRC are defined by the desire to acquire territory and resources to finance themselves. Natural resource extraction for militias is a strategy for accomplishing political and military objectives, such as gaining territory, raising funds for arms purchases, or enhancing their capabilities to confront state authorities (United Nations Group of Experts, 2020). Armed militias use violent tactics to continue occupying mining areas and have become integral to the overall dynamics of conflict in the nation (Schouten & Bach, 2021)

The greatest risk of impact from resource extraction is by local communities, especially those in areas rich in natural resources. Resource extraction can bring in revenue, yet at a severe expense. Residents in such areas suffer from degradation of the environment, forced labour, violence, and displacements. They are, in some instances, forced into working under dangerous conditions in mines for minimal or no remuneration (Human Rights Watch, 2005). Although they have a heavy dependence upon the use of the land for subsistence, they gain little or nothing from mining wealth (Kelly, 2014).

Exploitation of natural resources has been one of the drivers behind the decades of conflict in the DRC. Armed forces, militias, and other foreign actors frequently employ resource control as a means of financing operations and securing positions. With its immense wealth in gold, diamonds, and coltan among other minerals, the DRC has become an arena for competing interests, fuelling the current violence and instability (Schouten & Bach, 2021).

The Democratic Republic of Congo's mining industry is infamous for its human rights violations. Among those include forced labour, child labour, and sexual violence, particularly in areas occupied by various armed groups. A lack of governance and regulation in the mining industry has permitted such violence and abuse to thrive, as multinationals pay little heed to abuse and violence occurring within their supply chains (Amnesty International, 2016). 

The mining activities in the DRC have caused extensive destruction of the natural environment, deforestation, and erosion of soil and water. Resource extraction is rarely pursued in an environmentally friendly manner, resulting in long-term degradation of ecosystems and local communities' lives (Kelly, 2014).