RDC: Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement (CMC) – Forces de Defense du Peuple (FDP) – (CMC/FDP) – Communique de Presse No. 024 (21.11.2024)

RDC: Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) – Communique Officiel (05.11.2024)

RDC: Province du Nord-Kivu – Cabinet du Gouverneur – Communique de Presse (30.10.2024)

RDC: Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) – Objet: Contribution des FDLR pour ramener la paix dans la Region (22.10.2024)

RDC: Conseil Territoriale de la Jeunesse du Territoire de Rutshuru – #Alerte Rouge : Enieme massacres a Rutshuru (23.102.2024)

RDC: Jambo ASBL – Open letter to the EU Foreign Ministers Regarding Support for the Rwandan Military – Subject: Financial Support to the Rwandan Army via the European Peace Facility (18.10.2024)

RDC: Presidence de la Republique – Cabinet du Chef de l’Etat – Communique de la Cellule de Communication de la Presidence (03.10.2024)

DRC: The M23 controls the coltan production…

“In North Kivu, the consolidation of the M23’s administrative control over the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru has allowed it to take total control of coltan production. Trade in the Rubaya region, which is said to supply more than 15% of the world’s tantalum production, brings in around USD 300,000 per month to the armed group. This situation is very worrying and must be stopped” (…) “The criminal laundering of natural resources of the DRC smuggled out of the country strengthens armed groups, maintains the exploitation of civilian populations, some of whom are reduced to de facto slavery, and undermines peace-building efforts. Unless international sanctions are imposed on those who profit from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive and civilians will continue to suffer” – Bintou Keita, Head of the MONUSCO (01.10.2024).

The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) or the March 23 Mouvement (M23) are now in control of vital mineral resource and the extraction of it in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC and the FARDC is losing out because of all it. The Kinshasa regime is losing vital taxes and possible revenue by the collection of funds that is in the hands of the M23.

This here is a loss of not only the captured areas and where the M23 resides on a daily basis. The loss of lives, the burden of production and how they operate to extract the minerals from the region. However, this here is a proof of “blood diamonds” or conflict “minerals” which is enlarging the pockets of rebellion and militias within the DRC. This here gives leverage and wealth to the commanders who are in charge and the ones that is funding the operation as well.

For years there been reports of the illicit trade of mineral resources from the region. The routes of the conflict minerals have been going across to Rwanda and Uganda. Those who are also claimed to behind the M23 to begin with. Therefore, nothing here is surprising, but it shows how profitable the conflict and the usage of militia warfare is in the region.

What the Head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita is saying is relevant, but also stating to what extent it is. The UN Experts Reports has over the years explicitly stated the way the minerals are exported and who operates within the spectrum. Now it is coming to light and how vastly the M23 is earning on it. They have a “gold” mine in their hands and can easily access funds to pursuit the mission of “annexing territories” and continue the fight against the FARDC or their allies.

The concern here is that this won’t affect or stop the illicit trade in general. As the mineral are exported and sold into the multi-national businesses that uses it. They are generating massive wealth of the extraction of the mineral resources and the M23 can continue to operate with loads of cash-flow into their operation. Therefore, the trade of Coltan becomes not only a question of cost-benefit, but it becomes problematic regarding the usage of it. This is supporting a rebel and a militia to be able to earn profits in the lines of electronics or electronic vehicles for that matter.

This here should hit the headlines worldwide, but I know it is lucky if it goes into the bulletins or a page 7 story, which is caught in between ads and ignored stories from the world. That’s where this will end… and Kinshasa government will not get the help or the manpower to be able to takeover their own territories or even cease the export of coltan from the DRC. Peace.

RDC: Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) – Communique Officiel (08.09.2024)

RDC: Cercle International pour la Defense des Droits de l’Homme la Paix et l’Environment (CIDDHOPE) – Mettez fin a la torture et autres traitement cruel inhumain ou degradant du fait des responsables et membres du M23/RDF en territoire de Lubero (03.09.2024)