M23’s grip on Rubaya’s coltan mines leaves a trail of suffering and economic disruption

Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 armed group has seized large swaths of territory in the resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the mining town of Rubaya, which accounts for 15% of global coltan production—a strategic mineral for the electronics industry. The group has imposed taxes on mineral production and trade, according to UN experts, though M23 has consistently denied these claims. A new report from Amnesty International, released on Monday, accuses the Kigali-backed anti-government group of “terrible human rights abuses” against artisanal miners in eastern DRC, where M23 derives significant revenue from mineral exploitation.

Amnesty International documents summary executions and forced labour

The report details grave violations, including summary executions, torture, other ill-treatment, arbitrary detention, forced labour, and forced recruitment at mining sites under M23 control. Amnesty International gathered information on the summary execution of 18 artisanal miners in Rubaya, North Kivu province, and at the Lomera artisanal gold mine in neighbouring South Kivu province. According to witnesses and victims’ families, 10 miners were beaten to death, two were shot, and six were abducted and later found dead.

Testimonies reveal brutal treatment and underground detention

Miners told Amnesty International they were beaten if they asked for breaks, refused to hand over their ore, or disobeyed orders—even minor ones. More than 20 miners in Rubaya were held in underground cells and beaten three times a day by M23 fighters, the report states. These abuses have profound consequences for local communities, who rely on mining for their livelihoods but now face a climate of fear and violence.

Economic fallout: how M23’s control disrupts livelihoods and trade

The M23’s exploitation of minerals not only fuels the conflict but also destabilises the regional economy. Artisanal miners—often the primary earners for their families—are subjected to forced labour and extortion, reducing their income and pushing communities deeper into poverty. The taxation imposed by M23 on mineral production and trade diverts revenue away from legitimate state authorities, undermining economic development and governance in eastern DRC. Furthermore, the violence and insecurity deter investment and disrupt supply chains, affecting global markets for coltan and other strategic minerals.

International response and the need for accountability

Amnesty International’s findings add to mounting evidence of M23’s systematic abuses in eastern DRC. The report calls for urgent action to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. For the people of Rubaya and surrounding areas, the consequences are dire: loss of life, forced displacement, and a shattered local economy. As the international community grapples with the crisis, the human and economic toll on eastern DRC’s communities continues to grow, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention and sustainable solutions.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst