The M23 Rebel organisation Mines for over $300,000 a month (UN)
A vital mineral deposit in the eastern Congo known as Rubaya was taken over by the M23, a rebel organisation purportedly connected to Rwanda, in April. This mineral is utilised in the manufacturing of computers and smartphones. Bintou Keita, the head of the U.N. mission in Congo, informed the Security Council on Monday that Rubaya contributes more than 15% of the world’s supply of tantalum, a rare metal mined from coltan.
In a letter from the Congolese government earlier this year, Apple was questioned about its awareness of “blood minerals” being trafficked in its supply chain. Tantalum was one of the minerals that were highlighted.
Just over ten years ago, the ethnic Tutsi who make up the majority of M23, or the March 23 Movement, broke away from the Congolese army. They launched a significant attack in 2012 and seized control of Goma, the provincial capital close to the Rwandan border—the same city they are now threatening.
According to Congo, Rwanda has committed war crimes in the east, and experts from the US and the UN charge it of providing military support to M23. Although Rwanda disputes this, it acknowledged in February that it maintains troops and missile defence systems in eastern Congo to protect its security, citing a concentration of Congolese forces close to the border.
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