The Jordan Harbinger Show - Episode 1145: "Rwanda 2025 | Out of the Loop" Summary

Release Date: April 27, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Jordan Harbinger Show, host Jordan Harbinger engages in a deep and urgent conversation with experts Nathan Paul Southern and Lindsey Kennedy. The discussion delves into the harrowing realities of cyber slavery, human trafficking within scam call centers, and the escalating conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over mineral resources. This episode unravels the intricate connections between organized crime, international corporations, and geopolitical tensions, painting a stark picture of modern-day exploitation and its global implications.

1. Unveiling Cyber Slavery and Scam Call Centers

Phnom Penh's Dark Underbelly The conversation begins with an update on scam call centers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, highlighting the grim reality that many workers are coerced into labor under dire conditions. Lindsey Kennedy describes the environment:

"We're seeing loads and loads of young, mostly guys every day arriving from like India, Pakistan, Nepal... looking frightened and then sort of getting upstairs to the dorm rooms to work for scams." [05:28]

Magnitude of the Issue Nathan Paul Southern estimates the scale of cyber slavery, asserting that Cambodia alone harbors tens of thousands of forced laborers:

"A general estimate of tens and tens of thousands of people in Cambodia alone... is a fair representation of full on objective forced labor." [07:00]

Kennedy adds that the proliferation of scam compounds is overwhelming:

"There's just so many people arriving every day and we never see anyone leave." [09:52]

2. The Nexus of Organized Crime

Global Crime Networks The episode explores the symbiotic relationships between scam call centers and international organized crime groups, including North Korea, Yakuza, Chinese triads, and the Russian mafia. Southern emphasizes the complexity:

"Criminal groups don't care about diplomatic ties. And if you're making money, you're making money." [30:18]

Funding Through Scams The trio discusses how these scams are not only exploitative but also serve as significant funding sources for these criminal organizations:

"This industry is indirectly helping to fund North Korea as well, sometimes directly funding North Korea." [27:53]

3. Rwanda and Congo: A Battle Over Minerals

Historical Context Lindsey Kennedy provides a background on the Rwandan genocide and the formation of the M23 militia, which has devastated regions in the DRC:

"The M23 was storming refugee camps of ethnic Hutu people... committing mass rape as a weapon of war, murdering indiscriminately, and then taking over mines." [39:48]

Misappropriation of Funds A significant revelation is the misuse of UK funds intended for refugee resettlement in Rwanda, which instead empowered the M23 militia:

"At the exact moment when the UK signed this deal with Rwanda... is the exact moment when the M23 suddenly reappear and start massacring people again." [36:33]

Current Conflict Dynamics The ongoing conflict has led to the capture of mineral-rich territories, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and fueling further violence:

"Six weeks ago... they took North Kivu... now they have access to a lot of the world's cobalt, gold, and various other minerals." [55:48]

4. Corporate Greed and Government Complicity

Ethical Dilemmas in Mineral Sourcing The episode critically examines how major corporations like Apple and Tesla are complicit in unethical mineral sourcing from the DRC:

"There's no such thing as ethical cobalt. The cobalt that we need... there's no possible way for companies like Tesla or Apple to claim there's no such thing." [47:33]

Private Military Contractors and Neo-Colonialism Private military entities, such as those led by Erik Prince, are implicated in securing these resources, aligning with both Russian and Chinese interests:

"Erik Prince has met with the President of the Congo. It's likely that Trump won't want to put his own troops on the ground, but could offer private military contractors." [57:33]

Influence of Tech Giants The introduction of Starlink by Elon Musk into conflict zones like the DRC symbolizes the intertwining of technology and exploitation:

"Starlink receivers doing your Internet, then you don't need to worry about anyone bringing them down." [10:14]

5. Implications for U.S. National Security

Oligarchic Control Southern argues that corporate oligarchs are increasingly influencing U.S. national security, posing a threat akin to what traditional state actors like Russia and China represent:

"Oligarchs are running the most powerful country and the most powerful military in the world." [68:51]

Fragmented Domestic Unity The conversation shifts to internal U.S. divisions, which adversaries exploit to weaken national security:

"They think that, hey, you can't even empathize... It's a real tragedy." [71:19]

Future Conflicts Harbinger speculates on potential conflicts driven by resource wars, emphasizing the role of AI and drone warfare:

"What's almost certainly going to happen is some sort of conflict with China. And that conflict is going to involve a lot of AI and drone warfare." [60:24]

6. Conclusion: A Call to Awareness and Action

The episode culminates in a sobering reflection on the intertwined nature of global exploitation, organized crime, and corporate interests, urging listeners to recognize and address these pervasive threats.

"It's like a proxy colonialist war in the making to get these elements so that we can make AI chips, basically." [58:55]

"Oligarchs are running the most powerful country and the most powerful military in the world." [68:51]

Harbinger commends Southern and Kennedy for their courageous reporting and underscores the urgency of the issues discussed, highlighting the need for informed action and systemic change.

Key Takeaways:

• Cyber Slavery: Tens of thousands are trapped in scam call centers in Cambodia, often under duress and connected to global crime syndicates.

• Organized Crime: Scam operations fund powerful groups like North Korea’s cyber factions, Yakuza, Chinese triads, and the Russian mafia, perpetuating global insecurity.

• Rwanda-Congo Conflict: Misappropriated funds intended for refugee resettlement have empowered militias like M23, exacerbating violence over control of vital minerals.

• Corporate Complicity: Major tech companies unknowingly or knowingly rely on unethical mineral sources, perpetuating cycles of exploitation and conflict.

• National Security Threats: The rise of corporate oligarchs influencing U.S. national security mirrors traditional geopolitical threats, highlighting vulnerabilities within domestic unity.

• Future Conflicts: Resource-driven conflicts involving advanced technologies like AI and drones are imminent, driven by unchecked corporate and oligarchic ambitions.

This episode serves as a critical exposé on the dark intersections of human trafficking, organized crime, and global resource conflicts, urging listeners to stay informed and advocate for meaningful reforms.

Notable Quotes:

• "There is no real way of figuring this out that's really accurate. But one of the big anti-scam organizations recently calculated that they think that around a trillion dollars a year is stolen through scams." – Jordan Harbinger [10:14]

• "We've got to stop it... these oligarchs are running the most powerful country and the most powerful military in the world." – Nathan Paul Southern [68:51]

• "There is no such thing as ethical cobalt. The cobalt that we need inside lithium batteries to recharge, there's no such thing." – Lindsey Kennedy [47:33]

• "This industry is indirectly helping to fund North Korea as well, sometimes directly funding North Korea." – Nathan Paul Southern [27:53]

For more insights and detailed information, listeners are encouraged to visit the show notes at jordanharbinger.com and explore additional resources linked within the episode.