UN says Congo rebels are making $300,000 a month in a mine they took over

The rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have taken over the Rubaya coltan mine region and put in place a production tax that is expected to bring in about $300,000 a month, the UN security council heard on Monday.

After a lot of fighting in April, the M23 movement, which is run by Tutsis and is said to have the support of Rwanda, took over the area. It is where minerals used in smartphones and computers are found.

The head of the U.N. mission in Congo, Bintou Keita, told the Security Council that more than 15% of the world’s tantalum comes from mines traded in the Rubaya area.

The Congo is the biggest source of tantalum in the world. The US and the EU both see tantalum as an important mineral.

“This generates an estimated $300,000 in revenue per month to the armed group,” said Keita. “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 said.

Most of Congo’s natural resources are in the east, which is also where a lot of fighting happens over land and resources between different armed groups. Since the M23 uprising started up again in March 2022, things have gotten worse.

Since the fighting started up again, thousands have died and more than a million have been forced to leave their homes.

People are keeping an eye on manufacturers to make sure that the metals they use in things like laptops and electric car batteries don’t come from places like eastern Congo that are in war.

Keita said that as mining gains have grown, armed groups have turned into militarized business owners, which has made them stronger in both arms and money.

“Unless international sanctions are imposed on those benefiting from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive, and civilians will continue to suffer,” said Keita.