M23 Exploit Coltan Mines, Profiting Millions from Local Labor

(The Post News)– Under the watchful eyes of M23 rebels in Rubaya’s rising terrain, men in splash boots carry sacks of crushed rocks uphill.

Reports state laborers haul coltan ore, an essential mineral powering modern technology. The mineral is then loaded onto motorbikes and transported thousands of kilometers to Asia.

M23 Turning Ore into Tantalum

In Asia, manufacturers refine ore into tantalum, a high-temperature-resistant metal worth over $300/kg, essential for electronics, aerospace, and turbines. Rubaya produces about 15% of the world’s coltan, mined by impoverished locals earning a few dollars daily in conflict zones.

The mine is a key prize in decades-long conflicts, with armed groups battling for control, shaping political and military power. In April 2024, M23 seized Rubaya, looting its valuable minerals to fund their revolution, claiming to protect Congolese Tutsis.

Heavily armed M23 fighters captured additional mineral-rich territories in eastern DRC, expanding influence and intensifying tensions with Kinshasa and neighbors. These mineral resources drew international attention while M23 and the DRC engaged in Doha, Qatar, peace talks mediated by the United States.

The United States offered billions of dollars in potential investment. The U.S. further promised economic incentives if hostilities ceased and regional stability was achieved.

U.S. Sanctions and Provocative Waiver

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned additional actors in Congo’s mineral trade, including PARECO-FF, which controlled Rubaya from 2022 to 2024. PARECO-FF declined to comment, while a senior U.S. official explained M23 has avoided sanctions because it has remained sanctioned since 2013 for waging war.

John K. Hurley, U.S. Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, vowed to act against groups blocking access to critical defense minerals. Meanwhile, Jason Stearns, a former Congo investigator, called M23’s exemption astonishing, suggesting it aimed to preserve progress in ongoing Doha peace discussions.

M23’s territorial gains mark the most significant threat to Kinshasa in two decades, rooted in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide that killed one million Tutsis. Officials from M23, Rwanda, and Congo offered no comments, while Congolese leaders repeatedly accused Rwanda of provoking conflict to seize mineral wealth.

Moreover, a December United Nations report revealed coltan trade expanded rapidly after M23’s Rubaya takeover, with rebels establishing their mining administration. This administration supervises extraction, commerce, transportation, and taxation, consolidating rebel control over one of the world’s most valuable, contested ores.

About the Author

Kgopotso Ramalekane

Author

Hi, I’m Kgopotso, a journalism graduate with honours from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Botswana, specialising in politics and crime coverage. For me, journalism is about constantly learning how to make informed decisions, holding those who abuse power accountable, and using the power to speak up and question everything that seems deceiving. I’m passionate about keeping society informed, empowering people to be active citizens, and fostering a culture of curiosity and knowledge-sharing. My reporting explores how politics shapes our lives, influencing the laws we follow, the decisions we make, and even our financial wellbeing. Driven by a desire to keep learning and sharing knowledge, I see journalism not just as a profession but as a bridge between facts and the people they impact. Outside of reporting, I’m drawn to crime documentaries, especially works by Mariana van Zeller, whose investigations uncover how the underground mafia influences high-ranking professionals and how drugs hold powerful sway over communities, when I’m not watching documentaries, you’ll find me reading books, hiking in beautiful spots, or exploring my creativity through design apps. I also enjoy debating current affairs with friends. Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has been a powerful source of inspiration for me. Despite the harsh realities of apartheid, she pursued her education with relentless determination, proving that neither oppression nor injustice could silence intellect or resolve. Her fearless resistance against tyranny, her steadfast commitment to justice, and her lifelong fight for the dignity of marginalized South Africans reflect the courage and principles I strive to embody in my journalism. Like her, I want to challenge entrenched power structures, give voice to those who are unheard, and use my platform to expose injustice, hold leaders accountable, and keep the public well-informed. In this pursuit, I also stand firm against gender-based violence and femicide, crimes that continue to steal women’s freedom, safety, and lives. Mama Winnie’s legacy reminds me that truth-telling and education are not just acts of defiance but crucial services to humanity.

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