According to Amnesty International, eighteen artisanal miners were summarily executed by the M23-AFC and Rwandan army on mining sites in Rubaya and Lomera, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The executions occurred in a context of ongoing conflict and human rights abuses in the region. Amnesty International's report details the brutal treatment of miners, including beatings, shootings, and enforced disappearances.
The report states that ten miners were beaten to death, two were killed by gunshot, and six others were found dead after being abducted. In addition to the executions, sixteen miners and local residents interviewed by Amnesty International reported being tortured or ill-treated. Miners were reportedly detained in underground cells and subjected to repeated beatings.
At Rubaya, over twenty workers were detained in an underground cell and beaten three times a day. Some miners were forced to remain underground for over a week, while others were threatened with being sent to military training centers unless they paid a ransom to secure their freedom. The report highlights the severe human rights abuses faced by artisanal miners in the region.
Amnesty International's report also reveals that gold and coltan were illegally transported to Rwanda. Sacks of earth containing gold were transported by boat from Lomera to Kamembe, in western Rwanda. The report is based on twenty-six interviews and analysis of photos and videos collected in areas under M23-AFC occupation.
The M23-AFC, a rebel group operating in eastern DRC, has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including forced recruitment, killings, and displacement of civilians. The group's activities have contributed to the instability and insecurity in the region, affecting local communities and artisanal miners.
The Congolese government and international community have faced criticism for their response to the humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. Efforts to bring perpetrators to justice and protect civilians have been ongoing, but challenges persist in addressing the root causes of the conflict and ensuring accountability for human rights abuses.
The Amnesty International report calls for urgent action to protect artisanal miners and hold perpetrators accountable for human rights abuses. The organization emphasizes the need for thorough investigations and prosecutions to bring an end to impunity and ensure justice for victims and their families.
Key points
- Eighteen artisanal miners were summarily executed by M23-AFC in North and South Kivu provinces.
- Miners were subjected to torture, beatings, and enforced disappearances.
- Gold and coltan were illegally transported to Rwanda.
