Under the control of M23 rebels in the hills around Rubaya, thousands of laborers carry heavy sacks of ore that power the modern tech industry. The mineral, coltan, is essential for producing tantalum, which is used in phones, laptops, aerospace equipment, and gas turbines. Rubaya alone produces around 15% of the world’s coltan, all mined by hand. For locals, it is a livelihood that earns only a few dollars a day, while for armed groups, it is a lucrative source of funding.
How does M23 profit from Rubaya’s coltan mines?
M23 rebels seized Rubaya in April 2024, taking control of one of the world’s richest coltan deposits. The United Nations has reported that the group established a parallel administration to tax mining, trade, and transport. Traders in Rubaya are required to pay a 15% levy, generating about $800,000 per month for the group. This system replaced earlier smuggling operations where coltan was ferried on motorcycles into Rwanda. Now, with M23 controlling border cities like Goma and Bukavu, ore moves freely in trucks on paved roads, blending into Rwanda’s exports before reaching international markets.
While M23 insists its mission is to protect Congo’s Tutsi minority, the mineral trade has become its financial backbone. Reports of child labor, poor safety standards, and exploitation continue despite past global efforts to clean up the supply chain. As former U.N. expert Gregory Mthembu-Salter put it, “Here we are, 15 years later, (and) the same thing is happening.”
Why is the U.S. involved in Congo’s mineral conflict?
The U.S. Treasury recently sanctioned groups linked to coltan smuggling, including pro-government militia PARECO-FF, which controlled Rubaya before M23’s takeover. M23 has already been under U.S. sanctions since 2013. “The Treasury Department will not hesitate to take action against groups that deny the United States and our allies access to the critical minerals vital for our national defense,” said John K. Hurley, U.S. undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.
At the same time, American investors are eyeing Congo’s mineral wealth. Hedge fund manager Gentry Beach confirmed interest in negotiating rights to Rubaya’s mines. While the White House described its peace push as a “win-win outcome where all parties benefit, economically and politically, through cooperation and shared prosperity,” some U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about transparency and conflicts of interest.
Can peace talks change the future of Congo’s mining towns?
Doha is hosting peace negotiations between M23 and the Congolese government, while Washington mediates talks between Rwanda and Congo. But progress is fragile. Recent U.N. reports accuse M23 of massacring hundreds of civilians, and doubts remain about Rwanda’s willingness to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo.
For miners in Rubaya, daily life is shaped by rebel control, dangerous conditions, and little hope of real change. As 32-year-old worker Pascal Mugisha Nsabimana said, “There was too much harassment, there were many different taxes, and often we, the diggers, were not paid. And even if we got something, it was poorly paid.” He added that under M23, his income has tripled to just over five dollars a day.
The fate of Rubaya’s coltan, and the people whose lives revolve around it, now hinges on whether fragile peace talks can succeed in turning one of the world’s most exploited resources into a foundation for stability rather than conflict.
By Yockshard Enyendi