M23 Rebels Seize Strategic Mining Town in Eastern DRC Amid Ongoing Conflict

The M23 rebel group has taken control of Rubaya, a strategic mining town in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following intense fighting with government forces.

The town, located 40 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital Goma, is a key source of coltan, a mineral used in electronics. The capture of Rubaya raises concerns about the ongoing conflict in the region and the potential impact on the global supply chain of critical minerals.

Why this matters: The control of Rubaya by the M23 rebels has significant implications for the global electronics industry, which relies heavily on coltan and other critical minerals sourced from the region. The conflict also has broader humanitarian consequences, as it exacerbates instability and violence in the region, putting civilians at risk.

Local residents reported that the rebels entered the town center on Tuesday after a morning of fighting, with local officials confirming their presence on Wednesday. "Rubaya has been under M23 control since yesterday evening. We left the town yesterday afternoon," said a Congolese police official. The rebels have taken control of the town's mines, which contain strategic minerals, including coltan.

The M23 rebellion, mostly composed of Tutsi fighters, resumed in late 2021 after an eight-year dormancy, seizing large areas of North Kivu province. A spokesman for Wazalendo, an armed group fighting alongside the Congolese army, confirmed the M23's presence in Rubaya and reported that the rebels had recovered parcels of cobalt from artisanal miners.

The latest clash between M23 and the military resulted in three civilian deaths, including one woman and two men, and seven wounded, including one child. Around ten fighters were also killed in the fighting.

Despite the violence, witnesses reported that the rebels asked residents to hand over any weapons they may have and to continue their daily activities as normal. The town was calm by Wednesday, with a shopkeeper stating that they continued their activities.

The eastern region of DRC, where Rubaya is located, is mineral-rich and has experienced insecurity since the return of the M23 in March 2022. The control of the illicit trade in tin, gold, coltan, and tantalum has led to conflicts in the region. Authorities in the DRC, U.N. officials, and Western powers accuse neighboring Rwanda of supporting the M23, which Kigali denies.

The UN's DRC humanitarian coordinator, Bruno Lemarquis, stated that the rebel group "continues to advance towards the north of North Kivu but also towards (the neighboring province of) South Kivu."

The DRC is pushing Apple, a U.S. multinational tech company, for more information about its supply chain over concerns it may be tainted with conflict minerals. Apple has stated that it found no basis to conclude that any smelters or refiners in its supply chain financed or benefited armed groups in DRC or an adjoining country.

The capture of Rubaya by the M23 rebels marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. The situation continues to unfold, and the international community will be closely monitoring the implications for the people of the region and the global supply chain of critical minerals used in electronics. "The enemy killed civilians, how many is not known,"said a spokesperson for Wazalendo, underscoring the human cost of the conflict.

Key Takeaways

• M23 rebels capture strategic mining town Rubaya in North Kivu, DRC.
• Rubaya is a key source of coltan, a mineral used in electronics.
• The capture raises concerns about the global supply chain of critical minerals.
• The conflict has humanitarian consequences, putting civilians at risk.
• The DRC accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, which Kigali denies.