Amnesty International has accused M23 rebels in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo of committing atrocities and unlawful killings of miners while smuggling vital minerals to neighboring Rwanda, potentially constituting war crimes. These rebels, backed by Rwanda, oversee numerous small-scale mines in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the D.R.C., where tens of thousands of miners extract minerals crucial for various electronics, including mobile phones.
In a report released on Monday, Amnesty International stated that it conducted interviews with 26 individuals to document the alleged crimes occurring between January 2025 and March 2026. The investigation focused on a coltan mine near Rubaya in North Kivu and a gold mine in Lomera in South Kivu. According to the report, 16 interviewees, including miners and civilians, recounted instances of torture or mistreatment by the M23 rebels or their security guards at the mines under their control.
The report outlined various abuses by the rebels, such as “summary killings,” torture, arbitrary detentions, forced labor, and plundering, which are likely violations of international law. Specifically, the document detailed the deaths of 18 artisanal miners at the Rubaya and Lomera mines, where witnesses and family members reported that ten were beaten to death, two were shot dead, and six abducted miners were later discovered deceased.
Amnesty International further revealed evidence suggesting that gold was illicitly trafficked out of the M23-controlled areas in eastern D.R.C. and into Rwanda through clandestine pathways. Despite requests for comments, both the M23 rebels and Rwandan authorities have yet to respond.
Previous allegations from United Nations experts, the United States, and the D.R.C. government have accused Rwanda of benefiting from D.R.C.’s mineral resources in exchange for supporting the rebels, an accusation that Rwanda has denied. The eastern part of the D.R.C., known for its mineral wealth, has long been plagued by conflict involving government forces and various armed groups, including M23, whose recent resurgence has exacerbated the situation, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Notably, the Rubaya mine, a significant coltan mining site, has witnessed numerous tragedies, including a fatal mine collapse in March that claimed the lives of at least 200 individuals, as well as a landslide in January that resulted in around 200 fatalities. The Lomera gold mine also faced a collapse last year, trapping numerous miners. In the preceding year, the D.R.C. was responsible for over half of the global tantalum production, derived from coltan and utilized in smartphones and other devices, with the Rubaya mine contributing to approximately 15% of the worldwide output, as reported by Amnesty International. Additionally, the country exported more than 28 tons of gold during that period.