North Kivu: Coltan Price Soars from $30 to $70 Amid M23 Rebel Control of Rubaya
Since the rise of the M23 rebels, supported by Rwanda, to control the mining town of Rubaya in North Kivu province, the cost of mining activities has significantly increased.
According to local civil society, since the M23 rebels took over Rubaya, the price of a kilogram of coltan has soared from $30 to $70. Additionally, the daily wage for a digger has jumped from 10,000 Congolese francs (CDF) to 30,000 CDF.
“1 kg of coltan, which sold for $30, now even raw sand sells for $70 per kilo. We believe this is a way for the M23 to promote the exploitation of this mining quarry. Since the capture of Rubaya by the M23, mining activities have flourished and people are motivated.
A day laborer who used to receive 10,000 CDF per day is now paid 30,000 CDF daily, encouraging mineral exploitation which, unfortunately, is transported to Rwanda,” revealed Voltaire Batundi, president of civil society in Masisi.
This increase in mining costs in Rubaya, located in the Masisi territory of North Kivu, followed the distribution of mining tools to local populations by the M23 rebels.
“Regarding mining activities in Rubaya, there were two Fuso brand vehicles filled with spades that were brought and distributed to people to start digging ores,” Batundi added.
Recently, Crispin Mbindule, a national deputy of North Kivu and President of the Board of Directors of the Mining Cadastre, disclosed that within just five days, the M23 rebels had managed to exploit 5,440 kilograms of coltan and 3,250 kilograms of cassiterite.
Rubaya remains an area of economic importance for North Kivu province, primarily due to its reserves of coltan and cassiterite, essential raw materials for the manufacture of electronic devices.
