Politics & Government
A private vehicle delivers raw metals to Huaxin Mining, a small, Chinese-owned foundry in Lubumbashi, Congo. The Chinese foundries are the leading buyers of raw metals mined by hand in Congo's mineral-rich Katanga province. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)
MCT
A Chinese-run plant operates in Lubumbashi, the heart of Congo's mining belt. As China ramps up its investment in Congo, local human rights groups allege that private Chinese-owned factories in Congo are exploiting their workers with poor wages and taking advantage of corrupt local officials. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)
MCT
Maisha Africa, a Chinese-run smelter in Lubumbashi, Congo, is one of dozens of foreigh-owned smelters that process cobalt for export. Workers and Congolese human rights groups accuse the private Chinese firms of poor labor practices, low salaries and lax safety standards. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)
MCT
Laborers rest during lunch hour outside a Chinese-run smelter in Lubumbashi, Congo. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)
MCT
Isaac Ssemba, 24, lost his job at a Chinese-owned smelter in Lubumbashi, Congo, when the smelter closed last year. Congolese officials say that dozens of Chinese firms broke the law by abruptly closing at the start of the world financial crisis but say that corruption allows the firms to continue to operate. (Shashank Bengali/MCT)
MCT
of 5
i
