DRC Fights Back Against Rwanda’s Mineral Plundering
As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) moves to secure its mineral wealth, Rwanda continues to exploit the country’s resources through illegal extraction and exports.
The Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, revealed on Tuesday, February 19, that since 2022, Rwanda has plundered and exported minerals worth approximately $500 million. Alarmingly, projections indicate that Rwanda intends to export over $2 billion worth of minerals by 2026.
To counter this, the Congolese government has intensified measures to ensure that its minerals are traceable and recognized as conflict-free on international markets.
“We have undertaken significant efforts to give credibility to DRC’s minerals for end buyers. Our traceability system guarantees that our minerals are certified at their origin and not linked to bloodshed or armed conflicts.
We have also engaged with the United States and our partners in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) to ensure our minerals are accepted under this framework,” Minister Pakabomba stated.
The minister also called on the European Union (EU) to reconsider its agreement with Rwanda on strategic minerals.
“In 2022, the DRC signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of critical minerals to the EU. Last December, we presented and had our roadmap validated to ensure direct mineral exports to Western markets.
We are demonstrating the importance of purchasing minerals directly from the DRC rather than through intermediaries like Rwanda.
Our goal is to ensure responsible and sustainable mineral exploitation, free from conflict and human rights violations,” he emphasized.
The DRC is also tightening control over its gold exports, a resource frequently smuggled into Rwanda. The government has fully nationalized DRC GOLD TRADING, formerly Primera GOLD, to regulate and secure its gold trade.
“We have deployed operations from Bukavu, Kalemie, and Buta to ensure gold is captured within our borders and no longer illegally exported to Rwanda,” Pakabomba stated.
Pakabomba stressed that these measures would allow the DRC to benefit from its mineral wealth, while also weakening Rwanda’s economic dependence on smuggled resources.
“If global buyers stop sourcing from Rwanda, the country loses a critical revenue stream. Their economy is heavily reliant on this plundering, and once that flow stops, the DRC becomes a threat to Rwanda’s economic model,” he explained.
Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, reinforced that the ongoing war is primarily economic.
“They wage war against us because they want to steal our minerals. For 30 years, Rwanda has built its economy by exploiting what rightfully belongs to the DRC—resources that should be funding our roads, schools, and hospitals,” he stated.
The DRC remains committed to fighting mineral smuggling and ensuring that its natural wealth contributes to national development rather than fueling external economies.
