Goma, DRC – Violent clashes in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are escalating, with the rebel coalition Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) capturing another strategic mining town just days after seizing control of Goma, the largest city in the region. More than 4,000 people have been killed in less than two weeks, according to the Congolese government.
AfricaHeadline Reports Team
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The AFC rebels, with the M23 armed group as a key faction, took control of Nyabibwe, a mineral-rich town, only days after Goma fell on January 27. The offensive comes less than a year after the group seized Rubaya, a major coltan mining hub—an essential mineral in smartphone production.
Is Your Smartphone Fueling the Conflict?
The DRC, one of the most resource-rich countries in the world, has long been plagued by militias and rebellions driven by ethnic disputes and control over resources. The country holds the world’s largest reserves of cobalt and coltan, crucial for the electronics industry. Cobalt is used in batteries for mobile phones and electric vehicles, while coltan is refined into tantalum, an essential component in electronic devices.
Despite this wealth, “most Congolese have never benefited from these resources,” said a World Bank report, which ranks the DRC among the five poorest countries in the world. The country’s mineral resources remain contested between the government and armed groups, which control vast territories in the east.
Why Do Rebels Want the Minerals?
A spokesperson for the AFC-M23 coalition said the group controls coltan mines in Rubaya and Nyabibwe but declined to disclose how much revenue the group generates from these operations.
However, according to a senior UN official, mines in Rubaya account for about 15% of global tantalum production and generate roughly $300,000 per month for the M23. The group denies these claims, insisting that its presence in Rubaya is “purely humanitarian.”
Where Do the Stolen Minerals Go?
The international community has accused Rwanda’s government of backing M23 and facilitating the smuggling of DRC’s minerals. UN experts believe that between 3,000 and 4,000 Rwandan troops are supporting rebels in eastern DRC. In December, a UN report revealed that “at least 150 tonnes of coltan were illegally exported to Rwanda and mixed with local production.”
In recent remarks, Rwandan President Paul Kagame admitted that his country serves as a “transit point” for minerals smuggled out of the DRC but denied direct involvement in the looting. “Some people bring minerals from Congo… most of them go to Dubai, Brussels, Tel Aviv, and Moscow,” Kagame said, without providing evidence.
In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department reported that over 90% of DRC’s gold is “smuggled into regional states like Uganda and Rwanda, where it is refined and exported to international markets, particularly the United Arab Emirates.”
Global tech companies, including Apple and Microsoft, regularly publish reports on the sourcing of their minerals. However, the DRC has sued Apple subsidiaries in Belgium and France, accusing the company of sourcing minerals from conflict zones. Apple has denied the allegations.
Is There a Solution to the Conflict?
DRC’s mineral wealth has become a “curse,” Okenda said, adding that these resources “fuel wars, rebellions, and ecological problems.”
Last week, a ceasefire announced by M23 collapsed within hours, with rebels swiftly advancing toward Nyabibwe.
Regional and international leaders continue to negotiate solutions to the crisis, but Okenda believes that lasting peace depends on internal reforms within the Congolese government.
“If the Kinshasa government improves governance, invests in the army, ensures fair resource distribution, and conducts more transparent elections, I still believe peace can return to the DRC,” the analyst said.
