DRC: M23 seizes city very rich in minerals, will Rwanda gorge itself again?

By:Souleymane Loum

“Nothing appears to stop the rebels of the M23 (March 23 Movement), neither confrontations with the army nor the looming threat of death sentences hanging over them like the sword of Damocles. The rebellion, apparently well-armed—perhaps by Rwanda?—continues to wreak havoc in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and to a considerable extent. On Thursday, May 2, the M23 revealed that it had seized Rubaya, a town nestled in Masisi, North Kivu province, renowned for its mineral wealth…Just the coltan contained in its subsoil accounts for 50% of the country’s overall production, according to the Congolese authorities.

The locality also has deposits of manganese and other coveted wonders. So in fact since yesterday the exploitation of these minerals has come under the control of the insurgents, a capture which is probably to swell the war chest of this rebellion which poses massive problems for the army.

Remember that there is currently a conflict between the Congolese government and the American giant Apple, accused of making its money with “blood minerals” sold on the market by smugglers. President Félix Tshisekedi is categorical: Rwanda is behind this wicked business with the support it provides to this rebellion, in exchange for the exploitation of minerals from the DRC. Moreover, UN specialists and the American State Department have also accused Kigali of arming the rebels, which President Paul Kagame vigorously denies.

Let us remember that on April 29, President Tshisekedi was in France to examine with his counterpart Emmanuel Macron, among others, the involvement of Rwanda in the frequent abuses perpetrated by the M23. The French head of state had publicly asked Kigali to stop destabilizing its neighbour.

Clashing in the east of the DRC has intensified in recent months between the rebels and the Congolese army units dispatched to the scene. The security situation could worsen even further if the United Nations ends the presence of peacekeeping troops, a scheduled departure by the end of the year.

The country cannot see the end of a confrontation that has bereaved populations for decades, with one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world. Rebel groups but also the regular army are accused of having carried out massacres, rapes and a plethora of human rights violations. The violent conflicts have caused the displacement of about 7 million people, many of whom are isolated and have no access to aid.

The DRC, one of the richest countries on the continent (in mineral resources), has everything to start its take-off towards inclusive development which would leave no Congolese on the side of the road. But as long as weapons speak, as long as insecurity reigns, as long as death lurks, populations are doomed to chronic poverty and underdevelopment.