Amnesty International has charged M23 rebels operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with committing serious human rights violations and unlawful killings of miners while illegally trafficking essential minerals to Rwanda, suggesting these acts could be classified as war crimes.
The Rwanda-supported insurgents have taken control of numerous artisanal mining sites in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where tens of thousands of miners extract vital minerals used in global electronics, such as mobile phones.
In a report published on Monday, Amnesty International stated that it spoke with 26 individuals to gather evidence of the alleged crimes occurring between January 2025 and March 2026, focusing particularly on a coltan mine near Rubaya in North Kivu and a gold mine in Lomera, South Kivu.
According to the report, 16 of those interviewed, including both miners and local civilians, reported that they had been tortured or mistreated by the M23 rebels or security personnel at the mines they control.
The human rights organization noted that it had documented abuses by the rebels that likely constitute violations of international law, including “summary killings,” a term used for unlawful killings, alongside torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and theft.
Reports indicate desperation, looting, and bodies in the streets of Goma after M23 rebels, with Rwandan support, claimed control of the Congolese city. This development follows years of conflict in the mineral-rich eastern region.
The report outlined the deaths of 18 artisanal miners at the Rubaya and Lomera sites.
<p"Family members and witnesses indicated that 10 miners were beaten to death, two were shot, and six abducted miners were later discovered deceased."
Amnesty International also revealed that it had uncovered evidence suggesting that gold was being smuggled from M23-controlled territories in eastern D.R.C. into Rwanda.
There was no immediate response from the M23 or Rwandan officials regarding these allegations.
In previous statements, United Nations experts, the U.S., and the government of D.R.C. have accused Rwanda of benefitting from D.R.C.’s mineral resources in exchange for its backing of the rebel forces, a claim Rwanda denies.
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The eastern region of D.R.C., rich in minerals, has endured decades of conflict involving government forces and various armed factions, including M23, whose recent resurgence has intensified the violence and exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation.
The Rubaya site is a significant coltan mining location that has suffered numerous tragedies, including a collapse in March that resulted in at least 200 fatalities, and a landslide in January that also claimed around 200 lives.
Last year, the Lomera gold mine experienced a collapse that trapped many miners.
According to Amnesty International, D.R.C. produced over half of the world’s tantalum last year, an ore sourced from coltan that is utilized in smartphones and other devices, with the Rubaya mine contributing approximately 15 percent of the global output.
The organization also reported that the country exported more than 28 tons of gold during the same period.