Report: The Rubaya Mine Between The Ambitions of Rebels and The Eyes of Investors

SadaNews - Under the watchful eyes of the "M23" rebels stationed in the hills surrounding the Congolese town of Rubaya, men dressed in rubber boots line up carrying bags filled with crushed rocks, ascending winding paths carved into the slopes.

The workers transport coltan ore, a mineral that powers the modern world. The ore will be loaded onto motorcycles and then shipped thousands of kilometers to Asia, where it is processed into tantalum, a heat-resistant metal worth over $300 per kilogram, and in high demand by manufacturers of mobile phones, computers, aerospace components, and gas turbines.

Rubaya produces about 15% of the world’s coltan, all of which is extracted manually by poor locals who earn just a few dollars a day.

Controlling this mine represents the ultimate prize in a long-standing struggle within this central African nation.

The "M23" movement seized the area in April 2024. The United Nations asserts that the group has looted Rubaya’s riches to finance its rebellion, with support from the neighboring Rwandan government.

The armed group, which declares its aim to overthrow the Kinshasa government and ensure the safety of the Congolese Tutsi minority, has taken more mineral-rich territory in eastern Congo this year.

All eyes are on the region and its wealth, as the "M23" and the Congolese government pledge to sign a peace agreement in Doha this month.

The United States is also mediating parallel talks between Congo and Rwanda, promising billions of dollars in investments if hostilities cease.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on other parties accused of participating in mineral smuggling in Congo, including the pro-government militia "Barico-FF", which Washington stated controlled the Rubaya mine site from 2022 until early 2024, before "M23" took over. "Reuters" was unable to obtain a comment from "Barico-FF".

When asked why "Barico-FF" was targeted instead of "M23", a senior U.S. official explained that the "M23" group has been under U.S. sanctions since 2013 for its role in fueling conflict in the region.

John K. Hurley, Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated in a separate announcement, "The Treasury will not hesitate to take action against groups that deprive the United States and its allies of access to minerals vital to our national security."

Former U.N. investigator in Congo, Jason Stearns, noted that the lack of new mining-related sanctions targeting "M23" was surprising, likely aiming to maintain the momentum of the Doha negotiations.

The advance of "M23" represents the most serious threat to the Kinshasa government in over two decades of conflict, rooted in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, during which about a million Tutsis were killed by Hutu militias.

The Rwandan government has long denied trading in coltan looted from its neighbor or supporting the "M23" movement. However, the ruling party in Rwanda, dominated by Tutsis, shares the same concerns as the rebels regarding threats from competing Hutu groups active in eastern Congo.

A U.N. report dated July 3, reviewed by "Reuters", cited that as of April, Rwanda had at least 1,000 to 1,500 soldiers in rebel-controlled areas within Congo.

"M23" now controls two major Congolese cities, Goma and Bukavu, along the border with Rwanda. U.N. investigators state that Congolese minerals are smuggled through these cities into Rwanda, often at night, blending it with Rwandan coltan production to conceal its origin before export.

The governments of Rwanda and Congo, as well as the "M23" movement, did not respond to requests for comment, while the Congolese government has repeatedly accused Rwanda of fueling the conflict to loot Congo's mineral wealth.

According to a U.N. report issued in December, trade volumes reached unprecedented levels following "M23"’s control of Rubaya, as the group established a parallel administration that oversees mining activity, trade, transportation, and taxation on extracted minerals.

"Reuters" reporters visited Rubaya in March of this year, and "M23" officials stated that the group has imposed a 15% tax on the value of coltan purchased by traders from informal miners. According to the U.N. report, the group was generating $800,000 a month from these fees.

Mud and Motorcycles

Accessing the extensive network of excavations in Rubaya is a daunting task. Journalists had to abandon their SUVs after they got stuck in muddy roads, then walked 5 kilometers to reach the town, riding on motorcycles accompanied by rebel officials to reach the dig sites.

Activity begins before dawn, as thousands of workers head to the pits carved into the hills of North Kivu province, many working shifts of up to 12 hours. The tunnels can reach a depth of 15 meters underground. Upon extracting the ore, porters haul the bags to the surface, where they are washed in shallow basins filled with water, then dried under the sun.

In the initial months after the movement took control, smuggling was done via motorcycles to Rwanda, with trips lasting a full day, but the modifications implemented by "M23" changed the landscape. Motorcycles are now used only to transport ore from the mine to the town, from where it is loaded onto trucks and SUVs with capacities ranging from two tons to 20 tons, speeding up the process, especially after the group secured Goma and ensured paved roads to Rwanda.

U.N. experts and human rights activists have long warned that profits from illegal mining fund conflicts and bring little benefit to local populations, amidst widespread child labor. "Reuters" observed children working in the pits and washing the ore.

U.S. Interest in Rubaya's Wealth

In parallel, the Rubaya mine has attracted the interest of American investors, as U.S. President Donald Trump endeavors to broker a peace agreement that enhances the exploitation of mineral wealth in the region, which includes cobalt, gold, copper, lithium, and diamonds. Currently, however, Chinese investors dominate the formal mining sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to an informed source, Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach, head of "America First Global" and a financier of Trump’s 2016 election campaign, was part of a coalition seeking to negotiate the mining rights, proposing a majority stake while leaving the Congolese government with a 30% share.

Beach confirmed to "Reuters" his interest in the project, but declined to provide further details.

Opposition from American Legislators

In Washington, some U.S. lawmakers are voicing their opposition. In a letter dated August 8 addressed to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, more than 50 Democratic members of Congress criticized what they termed a lack of transparency in the administration's negotiations with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The legislators also expressed concerns over potential conflicts of interest due to the efforts of one of Trump’s allies to gain development rights for the Rubaya mine.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated in an email statement on August 5 that the agreement between Congo and Rwanda, arranged by Trump, holds the potential for establishing lasting peace and stability in the region.

The statement added that the President’s vision is based on a "win-win outcome" benefiting all parties economically and politically through cooperation and shared prosperity. Kelly did not respond to a subsequent inquiry regarding the letter from Democratic lawmakers.

The U.S. State Department, for its part, did not comment. On August 1, the department stated in a statement that it is committed to supporting efforts by Rwanda and Congo to enhance security and economic cooperation. The statement noted that the heads of state will soon be invited to Washington for a summit, without further details.

Agreement Supported by U.S. and Absence of "M23"

The U.S.-backed agreement does not include the "M23" group, which is participating in a separate and parallel negotiation track led by Qatar to end hostilities.

The success of the Doha talks is crucial for any lasting peace, ensuring that Rubaya can be secure for investment and development by Western mining companies.

However, some diplomats and analysts have doubts about the prospects for a swift resolution.

Congo and the "M23" rebels committed in Doha to reach a peace agreement by August 18, but progress has stalled due to the killing of at least 319 civilians in eastern Congo last month, according to the U.N., which states that "M23" carried out the attacks.

"Reuters" could not independently verify these figures. Last month, the movement’s leader Bertrand Bisimwa stated that they would open an investigation, considering that reports of violations might be a "smear campaign" against the rebels.

Withdrawal of Rwandan Forces... and Kagame's Conditions

The Washington-sponsored agreement stipulates the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from Congo. However, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said last month that he is not confident in the durability of the agreement. He emphasized that Congo must first fulfill its promises to eliminate the "Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo" (FDLR), a Hutu militia based in eastern Congo linked to the Rwandan genocide, which Kigali considers an existential threat.

Congolese researcher Josephat Musamba, a PhD candidate at Ghent University in Belgium, stated that eliminating this militia is extremely difficult for the Congolese army, which is no longer present in vast areas of territory controlled by "M23".

He added, "It is difficult to neutralize the FDLR as long as 'M23' still exists, and the Congolese army has not been redeployed." He described the two peace initiatives as "piecemeal steps" that do not address the "reality on the ground".

A senior diplomat closely monitoring the situation notes that another daunting task is transforming the current primitive coltan extraction method in Rubaya into a modern industrial process. He stated, "No one is talking about how these mining concessions can be granted and operated, especially as the mine is entirely reliant on artisanal mining, almost entirely hand-based."

Source: Reuters