A rebel group has taken control of another mining town in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just over a week after seizing the region’s largest city, Goma. The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), which includes the M23 armed group, claims to defend the interests of minority Rwandophone communities.
Since January 27, clashes between AFC rebels and Congolese forces have left more than 3,000 people dead in less than two weeks. The conflict is fueled by the region’s rich mineral wealth, including coltan, a valuable mineral used in smartphone production.
According to experts, global demand for cobalt and coltan has fueled the crisis, with global estimates suggesting that M23 earns around $300,000 per month from the sale of these minerals.
Rwanda, a key ally of M23, is accused by some of backing the rebel group’s efforts to plunder DRC mineral wealth. The country’s export of coltan has surged since its forces took control of mining zones in the DRC, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame has admitted that his country acts as a transit point for minerals smuggled from the DRC.
Tech giants such as Apple have faced criticism for sourcing conflict minerals from the DRC. The company denies accusations of sourcing minerals from rebel groups, but analysts argue that better governance in the DRC could help bring an end to the crisis.
Analysts say that the region’s rich mineral wealth has become a “curse,” creating wars and rebellions, as well as ecological problems. A solution to the conflict may lie in reforming the DRC’s government to ensure fair sharing of resources and improved governance.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/12/africa/fighting-drc-congo-minerals-phone-intl/index.html