Before the Security Council on Monday, September 30, Bintou Keita, the head of MONUSCO, expressed serious concerns regarding mining in areas controlled by the M23. The rebel group, supported by Rwanda, strengthened its control over the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru, thus taking control of coltan production. According to Bintou Keita, this exploitation of natural resources fuels conflicts in eastern DRC. In his report to the Security Council, Antonio Guterres provided more details on the situation.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
Antonio Guterresthe UN Secretary General, specified that the M23 has consolidated its hold on the coltan extraction zone, particularly near Rubaya, in the territory of Masisi, a region whose production represents more than 15% of the global supply of tantalum, according to UN data. Despite the intensity of mining activity, the production of these sites does not appear in official Congolese export statistics.
Production tax
The armed group imposes a tax on this production, generating around 300,000 dollars (more than 270,000 euros) per month, according to Antonio Guterres. He also insisted on the need to improve the governance of the exploitation of natural resources by focusing on transparency and traceability, key elements to stabilize the east of the DRC.
According to a report by the group of experts United Nations published in June 2024, the mining sites of Rubaya remained under the control of the Coalition of Congolese Resistant Patriots-Force de Strike (PARECO-FF), another local armed group, which oversees mining in the region. The report indicates that M23 and PARECO-FF established an alliance of convenience to facilitate the transport of extracted minerals to Mushaki, which has become a hub for smuggling.
Control of trade routes
This collaboration allows M23 and PARECO-FF to control the trade routes for minerals, part of which is then smuggled to Rwanda. The United Nations report also notes that in 2023, the Rwanda saw a record increase in its coltan exports, with an increase of 50% compared to the previous year, suggesting the involvement of these minerals in smuggling.
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