The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth
The cobalt in your phone comes out of Congolese mines, and the supply chain is worse than you think.
Nicolas Niarchos reports from the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the extraction of the minerals that electric vehicles and consumer electronics depend on, and on who profits along the way. He follows the chain from artisanal diggers through traders and across borders, and is clear-eyed about the regional politics, Rwanda’s part included.
Recommended by 1 Person
Tyler Cowen
Nicolas Niarchos, The Elements of Power: A Story of War, Technology, and the Dirtiest Supply Chain on Earth is a good treatment of minerals issues as they relate to the Congo today. It will not make you more bullish on Rwanda, or for that matter the Congo.
Source · January 2026
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