US intensifies sanctions on M23 rebels and Rwanda over illegal mineral trafficking
June 26, 2026
The US Treasury Department has frozen the assets of Gasabo Gold Refinery and its director, Jean Malic Kalima, accusing them of playing a central role in a gold smuggling operation that finances the M23 armed group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Washington alleges that the Rwandan refinery collaborated directly with both Rwandan government officials and M23 rebels. According to the US account, Rwandan soldiers and M23 fighters provided armed escorts for gold convoys traveling from DRC mining zones to Bukavu, before the precious metal was transported to Kigali for processing.
Official US records indicate that in early 2026 alone, nearly 60 kilograms of gold—worth several million dollars—were illegally smuggled from DRC into Rwanda through this network.
These sanctions arrive as international pressure mounts over persistent reports of systematic looting of Congo’s natural resources and ongoing violence in its eastern provinces.
Financial measures target mineral trafficking networks
Washington’s sanctions aim to sever the financial lifelines of armed groups that exploit illegal mineral extraction to fund their operations in the region.
“The United States will not tolerate lawless factions profiting from illegal mineral trade to destabilize Central Africa. Congo’s mineral wealth rightfully belongs to its people,” stated US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a formal declaration.
The penalties include freezing all US-based assets held by Gasabo Gold Refinery and its director. Additionally, the measures prohibit any American individuals or corporations from conducting financial transactions with the sanctioned entities. Foreign companies using the US financial system or maintaining American subsidiaries could also face secondary restrictions.
The mineral trade fuels conflict in eastern DRC
Since its resurgence in late 2021, the M23 rebel group has seized control of vast mineral-rich territories in eastern DRC. Kinshasa, United Nations officials, and Western governments have repeatedly accused Rwanda of providing military support to the rebels—a claim Kigali continues to deny.
Mineral extraction has become the primary revenue source for M23 operations. In April 2024, the group captured Rubaya, home to one of the world’s largest coltan mines. This single site accounts for approximately 15% of global coltan production, a mineral critical for manufacturing smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices.
The rebels impose heavy taxes on mineral extraction and trade, generating substantial income that sustains their armed campaign.
New evidence emerges of systematic resource plunder
The US sanctions follow a recent investigation by an international watchdog organization, which documented hundreds of tons of illegally extracted Congolese coltan being laundered in Rwanda before export to global electronics supply chains.
United Nations experts estimate that between May and October 2024, around 120 tons of coltan were smuggled monthly from M23-controlled zones in DRC to Rwanda.
These developments highlight Washington’s determination to disrupt not only armed groups but also the commercial networks that enable their financing. The measures also reignite debates about mineral traceability and the accountability of international actors within global supply chains.