Amnesty International has documented grave human rights abuses in mining areas controlled by the M23 in North Kivu and South Kivu. The organization has reported summary executions, torture, arbitrary detention, forced labor, and forced recruitment of artisanal miners. According to Amnesty, 18 artisanal miners were killed in the Rubaya and Lomera mines. The organization's research focused on a coltan mine near Rubaya and a gold site in Lomera.
Amnesty International gathered testimony from 26 people, including artisanal miners, mining experts, well owners, and relatives of victims. The organization reported that miners were forced to work underground for several days, sometimes over a week, and were subjected to violence when they refused to hand over their production or follow M23 orders. Cases of torture and ill-treatment were also documented.
Amnesty International reported that seven minors were detained and threatened with being sent to M23 training camps if they did not pay a ransom. The organization also documented cases of arbitrary detention and forced recruitment. According to Amnesty, M23's appropriation of gold and coltan could constitute pillage, a potential war crime.
Amnesty International found evidence of gold trafficking from M23-controlled areas to Rwanda. In Lomera, testimony from miners and other actors, corroborated by visual evidence, described the transportation of gold-bearing soil by boat to Kamembe, Rwanda. The organization estimates that Rwandan nationals are present in the Rubaya and Lomera mines, participating in mine surveillance and violence against miners.
Amnesty International believes that Rwanda's responsibility may be engaged if Rwandan nationals in the mines acted under the direction or control of the Rwandan state. The organization has called on states and companies to stop buying gold or coltan from Rwanda until concrete guarantees are provided on the origin of these minerals.
Amnesty International has urged the US and EU countries to refrain from concluding mining agreements concerning Rubaya or other M23-controlled sites until international human rights observers and independent monitoring organizations can access these areas freely. The organization is demanding action to address the human rights abuses and mineral trafficking.
The M23 and Rwandan authorities have not responded to Amnesty International's requests for comment on these allegations. The situation highlights the need for increased scrutiny and action to prevent human rights abuses and mineral trafficking in the region.
Key points
- Amnesty International documents 18 artisanal miners killed by M23 in eastern DRC.
- M23's appropriation of gold and coltan could constitute pillage, a potential war crime.
- Amnesty International calls for a ban on buying gold and coltan from Rwanda until origin guarantees are provided.
