Rebels tighten grip on Congo mineral wealth as UN warns of long-term control
M23 rebels are establishing control over key mineral-rich territories in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), United Nations experts have warned.
The Tutsi-led rebels, active in North and South Kivu provinces, have seized key towns since April 2024 – allegedly with support from Rwandan forces, though Kigali denies involvement and says it is committed to a ceasefire and peace talks.
A report by the UN Security Council's Group of Experts accuses M23 of setting up shadow administrations to explot strategic mines and trade routes.
"This constitutes the most important contamination of supply chains with ineligible minerals recorded in the Great Lakes region over the last decade," they said in their report, released Wednesday.
The rebels are also accused of using forced labour to expand roads, and patrolling mining areas to make sure minerals were only sold to authorised Congolese and Rwandan traders.
The UN said M23 was financing its operations by exporting minerals from areas under its control, including coltan, a resource used in electronics like smartphones and computers.
It added that M23 had created a "mining ministry" to oversee coltan exports from Rubaya, home to one of the world’s largest deposits of the mineral.
"In this way, the militants collected at least $800,000 per month in taxes on coltan production and trade in Rubaya", the report said.
The ongoing territorial expansion has continued despite agreed ceasefires, suggesting M23's true aim is long-term occupation and exploitation of conquered areas, the UN experts added.
(with newswires)
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
DR Congo, Rwanda peace talks in Angola cancelled after hitting 'deadlock'
Rwandan forces and M23 rebels accused of shelling civilians in DR Congo
Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seize key town in east DRC
