The world’s insatiable appetite for miniaturised electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops and video game consoles has led to the growing demand for an obscure mineral ore crucial to their function.

Coltan.

Whilst the majority of the world’s supply comes from legitimate mining operations in Australia, Canada and Brazil a black market in the trade of Congolese coltan has existed for over two decades.

Brutal militias (many backed by neighbouring Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda) make millions yearly.

The simple truth is that the illegal mining of coltan contributes to maintaining one of the bloodiest armed conflicts in history.

A conflict that has already claimed more than five million lives, displaced millions and resulted in the rape of over 1.2 million women and young girls in the last twenty years.