NORTH KIVU — Amnesty International accused M23 rebels in eastern Congo of carrying out abuses and unlawful killings of miners while trafficking critical minerals to neighboring Rwanda. The rights watchdog stated the documented abuses could amount to war crimes.

The organization interviewed 26 people to document crimes allegedly committed from January 2025 to March 2026. The documented crimes occurred particularly at a coltan mine near Rubaya in North Kivu and a gold mine in Lomera in South Kivu. M23 rebels control dozens of artisanal mines in Congo's eastern North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Miners in these regions dig for minerals critical for much of the world's electronics, including mobile phones.

Amnesty International documented abuses by rebels that likely amounted to crimes under international law, including summary killings, torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor and pillage. Sixteen interviewees, including miners and civilians, said M23 rebels or security guards at rebel-controlled mines had tortured or mistreated them. The report detailed the killings of 18 artisanal miners at the Rubaya and Lomera mines. "Witnesses and family members reported that 10 were beaten to death, two were shot dead and six abducted miners were later found dead," Amnesty International said.

Amnesty International found evidence that gold was trafficked out of M23-controlled areas of eastern Congo into neighboring Rwanda through smuggling routes. The organization says gold and coltan from M23-controlled areas are being smuggled into neighboring Rwanda. United Nations experts, the United States and Congo's government have in the past accused Rwanda of profiting off Congo’s minerals in exchange for its support to the rebels. Rwanda denies accusations that it profits from Congo’s minerals or supports the rebels.

Why It Matters

The scale of mineral extraction in the region reflects the economic stakes involved in the conflict. Last year, Congo produced more than half of the world’s tantalum. The Rubaya mine produced about 15% of global tantalum production last year.

Congo exported more than 28 tons of gold last year. Eastern Congo has for decades been affected by violence from government forces and different armed groups, including M23.

Timeline

On 4 August 2022, a critical analysis of an Amnesty International report regarding Ukraine and violations of international humanitarian law was published in the Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies by Walter de Gruyter GmbH. On that same date, last year, Congo produced more than half of the world’s tantalum.

On 2026-01-31, a landslide at Rubaya in January left around 200 people dead. On 2026-03-31, a mine collapse at Rubaya in March killed at least 200 people. Also on 2026-03-31, Amnesty International interviewed 26 people to document crimes allegedly committed from January 2025 to March 2026.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates that Amnesty International says gold and coltan from M23-controlled areas are being smuggled into neighboring Rwanda. Historical context notes that the Congo–Arab War is 1892–1894 war between the Congo Free state and the Arabo-Swahilis.