Source: Amnesty International –
- The plunder by M23 and Rwanda of DRC’s gold and coltan may amount to war crime of pillage
- M23’s multiple violations that also involve Rwandans may amount to war crimes
- “Rwanda has continued to illegally profit from DRC’s mineral wealth,” Agnès Callamard
- Minerals linked to abuses by M23 are prevalent in electronic devices owned by millions across the world
Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) fighters have committed horrific human rights abuses against artisanal miners in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while facilitating the trafficking of gold and coltan to neighbouring Rwanda with the help of Rwandan authorities, Amnesty International said in a new briefing.
“DRC: We didn’t come to play: M23 abuses at artisanal mines and the trafficking of gold and coltan to Rwanda”, documents M23 violations including summary killings, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary detention, forced labour and forced recruitment. It shows how M23 fighters forced miners to dig minerals, often making them work underground for more than a week at a time in coltan mines near Rubaya in North Kivu province, and Lomera, a gold mining site in South Kivu province. The violations may amount to war crimes, which are crimes under international law.
“Rwanda-backed M23 is committing horrific human rights abuses, which may amount to war crimes, against artisanal miners in eastern DRC. These are meant to punish and instill fear among miners and others living and working near the mines, as minerals are trafficked across the border into Rwanda, which has continued to profit from the exploitation of DRC’s mineral wealth,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
Rwanda-backed M23 is committing horrific human rights abuses, which may amount to war crimes, against artisanal miners in eastern DRC. These are meant to punish and instil fear among miners and others living and working near the mines, as minerals are trafficked across the border into Rwanda, which has continued to profit from the exploitation of DRC’s mineral wealth,
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General
“The African Union and its Member States must take far bolder steps than they have done thus far to put an end to the likely pillage driven by an endless international appetite for African critical minerals. Failure to stand united against such pillage and the horrific abuses that comes in its wake will only encourage others to follow suit.”
“International actors must end their silence about M23’s atrocities, the smuggling of minerals from conflict affected areas, and Rwanda’s responsibility. They need to hold perpetrators, including Rwandan government officials, accountable.”
Amnesty International is calling for all countries and companies to cease the purchase of coltan and gold from Rwanda – or processors and refineries from third countries that buy these minerals from suppliers in Rwanda – until the Rwandan government provides concrete evidence that it has ended the receipt of coltan and gold trafficked from DRC. Rwanda’s authorities must also ensure that armed or other Rwandans are not present at and play no role in abuses at the Lomera and Rubaya mining sites.
The African Union and its Member States must take far bolder steps than they have done thus far to put an end to the likely pillage driven by an endless international appetite for African critical minerals. Failure to stand united against such pillage and the horrific abuses that comes in its wake will only encourage others to follow suit.
Agnès Callamard
Amnesty International is also calling on the US and EU member states not to establish any mining agreements involving the Rubaya mine or other M23-controlled mines in the DRC unless international human rights observers and independent international oversight organizations have full and unfettered access.
M23 controls dozens of artisanal mines in North and South Kivu, where tens of thousands of people rely on them for income. The group tightly controls access to these mines, which have no independent international oversight.
Amnesty International interviewed 26 people, including artisanal miners, mining experts, mine shaft owners and family members of victims. Researchers also analysed photos and video evidence from mining sites.
Testimonies indicate that Rwandans are present at Rubaya and Lomera. In Rubaya, miners said Rwandans play a dual role as civilian miners or mineshaft managers but also take part in hostilities when needed alongside M23 fighters. In Lomera and Rubaya, security guards, some of whom have identified as Rwandan and spoke Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda, collaborate with M23 and have beaten and ill-treated miners.
Neither M23 nor Rwandan government officials responded to Amnesty International’s request for comment.