UN says Congo rebels generating $300,000 monthly in seized mining area
Rebels in eastern DRC have consolidated control over the Rubaya coltan-mining region, imposing a production tax.
A coltan mine near Rubaya in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Image by: MONUSCO | Sylvain Liechti, via Flickr Commons)
Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have consolidated control over the Rubaya coltan-mining region, imposing a production tax estimated to generate around $300,000 in monthly revenue, the United Nations security council heard on Monday.
The M23 movement, a Tutsi-led organization purportedly backed by Rwanda, seized the area, which produces minerals used in smartphones and computers, following intense fighting in April.
Bintou Keita, head of the UN mission in Congo, told the Security Council that trade from minerals in the Rubaya area accounts for over 15% of global tantalum supply.
Congo is the world’s top producer of tantalum which is considered a critical mineral by the United States and the European Union.
“This generates an estimated $300,000 in revenue per month to the armed group,” Keita said. “This is deeply concerning and needs to be stopped.”
“The criminal laundering of the DRC’s natural resources smuggled out of the country is strengthening armed groups, sustaining the exploitation of civilian populations, some of them reduced to de-facto slavery, and undermining peace-making efforts,” Keita added.
The majority of Congo’s mineral resources are situated in the east, a region plagued by conflict over land and resources between several armed factions. The situation has deteriorated since the resurgence of the M23 rebellion in March 2022.
Thousands have been killed and over 1 million displaced since the resurgence in fighting.
Manufacturers are under scrutiny to ensure that metals used in products such as laptops and batteries for electric vehicles are not sourced from conflict zones like eastern Congo.
Keita said that as profits from mining have surged, armed groups have become militarized entrepreneurs, making them stronger both militarily and financially.
“Unless international sanctions are imposed on those benefiting from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive, and civilians will continue to suffer,” Keita said.
(By Sonia Rolley; Editing by Bate Felix and Christina Fincher)
I always wonder what the real task of the UN is. Can a good samaria explain to some of us. Because for real world has become the most dangerous place to live under all these toothless so called world organisations who claim to advocate for peac stability and tranquility of the predated weak creatures. If u look at what is being done to the Palestines Congolese and other people living in war zones you won’t fail to say this is not the best place to live. It seems the UN is controlled by some merciless ppl. Can the liberate itself and do the needful.
Bintou Keita should not tell halftruth to the world. These lies are what prolong the war in Congo and profit her and MONUSCO. The main operator was SMB a private company that was paying taxes to DRC government until its assets were seized by the President brother Christian Tshisekedi who never paid any tax until it was seized by AFC/M23. Bintou’s MONUSCO planes have crashed and found full of coltan. What is MONUSCO business in traficking coltan?
The Congolese in the east of the country is concerning a great deal. Sanctions must as a matter urgency implemented on all who buy Congolese conflict zone minerals
Why don’t cut the demand as you do with other countries and products. You are sponsoring these rebels. You hypocrites
All these I lies I have been up and down in the Congo for many years
We Congolese we never have a problems living with ARES neighbours, only because neger is a easy human to lies and to corrupt and the western poor colonials country know about that and they ARES profiting to the situation also creating proxy war like in Ukraine,
And now they understand the game is over.
Thank you.