Demand for critical minerals fuels conflict but could help resource-rich nations, WTO says

The WTO warns that surging demand for critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earths is driving conflict in resource-rich regions such as Congo and Sudan, where illegal mining fuels violence. However, the organization highlights an opportunity for these nations to leverage their mineral wealth for economic transformation through local processing, strengthened international law, and cooperative strategies to avoid being locked into low-value production.