Rwanda’s Illicit Exploitation of Congolese Minerals Funded by DRC’s Gold
In a recent address to the Congolese diaspora in Switzerland, Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, exposed how Rwanda’s budget is largely funded through the illegal exploitation of Congolese natural resources, particularly gold.
Muyaya shared details from a briefing with the Minister of Mines, who highlighted how Rwanda has been plundering Congolese resources for the past three decades. “Today, half of Rwanda’s budget is financed by the illicit exploitation of our gold,” he stated.
The government spokesman further emphasized that President Félix Tshisekedi’s assertion that the ongoing conflict is fueled by plunder is indisputable. “When President Tshisekedi says that this war is one of pillage, it is a truth,” Muyaya affirmed.
He also predicted that by 2026, Rwanda’s illicit gold trade could generate $2.2 billion, despite the country having no gold reserves of its own.
In response, Muyaya urged the Congolese diaspora to form a “digital army” to combat what he termed “Rwandan poison,” referring to the disinformation campaign emanating from Kigali.
Additionally, a United Nations expert report from January 2025 revealed that Rwanda fraudulently exported at least 150 tons of coltan from Rubaya, a mining town in the DRC. These minerals were reportedly mixed with Rwandan production before being sent to international markets.
