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A Black Mud From Africa Helps Power the New Economy 

Like several miners I interviewed in the reserve, a territory controlled by the Ugandan military and its rebel allies, Bangazuna was compelled to give up a slice of his coltan diggings to an extortion racket run by Ugandan soldiers.

''In the morning, when you get up, the Ugandans hand you a pack of cigarettes, and they give you two bottles of beer,'' said Bangazuna, explaining his daily routine. ''In the evening, when you finish digging, you have to pay them back with coltan. It was very expensive. One bottle of beer cost me two spoons of coltan'' -- about $8 -- and cigarettes were one spoon. If you refuse to pay or if you don't have coltan, they beat you and threaten to shoot you.''

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