Rebel Group in Congo Rakes in $300,000 a Month through Mining Control
A U.N. official has revealed that a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo is generating around $300,000 a month by controlling a mining area in the country’s east. The M23, a rebel group with alleged links to Rwanda, seized the Rubaya mining area in April, which holds significant deposits of tantalum, a key mineral used in the production of smartphones and computers.
According to Bintou Keita, head of the U.N. mission in Congo, the M23’s control of the mining area is a significant source of revenue for the group. In a statement to the Security Council, Keita emphasized the importance of imposing international sanctions on those benefiting from this criminal trade, saying, "Unless international sanctions are imposed on those benefiting from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive and civilians will continue to suffer."
The conflict in eastern Congo has been ongoing for decades, with more than 120 armed groups fighting for power, land, and valuable mineral resources. The violence has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over 6 million people displaced from their homes. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings, rapes, and other human rights violations.
The M23 is a rebel military group primarily composed of ethnic Tutsis that broke away from the Congolese army over a decade ago. They have been involved in several violent conflicts, including a large offensive in 2012 that resulted in the takeover of the provincial capital of Goma. The group is currently threatening the same city again.
Congo has accused Rwanda of involvement in war crimes in the east and has accused the country of giving military backing to the M23. Rwanda has denied these claims, but admitted to having troops and missile systems in eastern Congo to safeguard its security. The U.N. has estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan government forces are deployed in eastern Congo alongside the M23.
Last week, a regional court in East Africa opened proceedings in a case filed by Congo against Rwanda, accusing the country of violating Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by sending troops to help rebels in the country’s east. The case highlights the complex and ongoing conflict in the region, which is marked by violence, human rights abuses, and exploitation of natural resources.
