Amnesty International says governments and companies should stop buying gold and coltan from Rwanda until Kigali provides concrete evidence that minerals trafficked from M23-controlled areas of eastern DRC are no longer entering Rwandan supply chains.
KINSHASA - September 21, 2026 - Amnesty International has called on countries and companies to halt purchases of gold and coltan from Rwanda following a new investigation alleging that minerals from M23-controlled mining areas in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are being trafficked across the border while miners face killings, torture, forced labour and forced recruitment.
In its new briefing, "DRC: We didn't come to play: M23 abuses at artisanal mines and the trafficking of gold and coltan to Rwanda," Amnesty says Rwanda-backed M23 fighters committed serious abuses against artisanal miners at the Rubaya coltan mining area in North Kivu and the Lomera gold site in South Kivu.
Amnesty International's investigation says some of the documented violations may amount to war crimes. The organization also says the alleged plunder of gold and coltan by M23 may amount to the war crime of pillage.
Amnesty calls for buyers to halt purchases from Rwanda
Amnesty's recommendation goes beyond documenting abuses at mining sites. The organization is calling on all countries and companies to stop purchasing gold and coltan from Rwanda, including through processors and refineries in third countries that source the minerals from Rwandan suppliers.
According to Amnesty, purchases should remain suspended until the Rwandan government provides concrete evidence that it has ended the receipt of gold and coltan trafficked from the DRC.
The organization also called on Rwanda to ensure that armed or other Rwandans are not present at the Rubaya and Lomera mining sites or involved in abuses there.
Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the investigation should serve as a warning to companies sourcing minerals from Rwanda, arguing that businesses can no longer ignore evidence concerning conflict-linked mineral flows from eastern DRC.
Amnesty additionally urged the United States and European Union member states not to establish mining agreements involving Rubaya or other M23-controlled mines unless independent international human-rights monitors and oversight organizations are granted full access.
JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS
Amnesty Urges Halt to Rwanda Gold and Coltan Purchases Over M23
Sep 21, 2026
Sep 21, 2026
7 min read
Published
Updated:
Amnesty International says governments and companies should stop buying gold and coltan from Rwanda until Kigali provides concrete evidence that minerals trafficked from M23-controlled areas of eastern DRC are no longer entering Rwandan supply chains.
KINSHASA - September 21, 2026 - Amnesty International has called on countries and companies to halt purchases of gold and coltan from Rwanda following a new investigation alleging that minerals from M23-controlled mining areas in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are being trafficked across the border while miners face killings, torture, forced labour and forced recruitment.
In its new briefing, "DRC: We didn't come to play: M23 abuses at artisanal mines and the trafficking of gold and coltan to Rwanda," Amnesty says Rwanda-backed M23 fighters committed serious abuses against artisanal miners at the Rubaya coltan mining area in North Kivu and the Lomera gold site in South Kivu.
Amnesty International's investigation says some of the documented violations may amount to war crimes. The organization also says the alleged plunder of gold and coltan by M23 may amount to the war crime of pillage.
Amnesty calls for buyers to halt purchases from Rwanda
Amnesty's recommendation goes beyond documenting abuses at mining sites. The organization is calling on all countries and companies to stop purchasing gold and coltan from Rwanda, including through processors and refineries in third countries that source the minerals from Rwandan suppliers.
According to Amnesty, purchases should remain suspended until the Rwandan government provides concrete evidence that it has ended the receipt of gold and coltan trafficked from the DRC.
The organization also called on Rwanda to ensure that armed or other Rwandans are not present at the Rubaya and Lomera mining sites or involved in abuses there.
Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the investigation should serve as a warning to companies sourcing minerals from Rwanda, arguing that businesses can no longer ignore evidence concerning conflict-linked mineral flows from eastern DRC.
Amnesty additionally urged the United States and European Union member states not to establish mining agreements involving Rubaya or other M23-controlled mines unless independent international human-rights monitors and oversight organizations are granted full access.
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18 miners allegedly killed
The investigation was based on interviews with 26 people, including artisanal miners, mining experts, mine-shaft owners and relatives of victims. Amnesty said its Evidence Lab also examined photographs and video material from the mining areas.
The organization documented what it describes as the summary killing of 18 artisanal miners at Rubaya and Lomera.
According to witnesses and relatives interviewed by Amnesty, ten miners were beaten to death, two were shot and six others were abducted before later being found dead.
Another 16 miners and civilians living near the mines described torture or other ill-treatment by M23 fighters or security guards working with them.
At Rubaya, Amnesty says M23 used shipping containers as detention cells. The investigation also documented underground detention areas known as ndake, where more than 20 miners were allegedly detained and beaten.
Seven miners told Amnesty that M23 fighters threatened detainees with being sent to military training centres if they failed to pay money for their release.
Independent reporting by RTVE and an EFE dispatch published by SWI swissinfo carried the findings internationally as the report was released.
Gold allegedly moved across Lake Kivu to Rwanda
Amnesty says it also found evidence of gold being moved from M23-controlled territory into Rwanda through established trafficking routes.
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The organization says testimony from miners, mining representatives and other people who worked at Lomera, combined with material examined by its Evidence Lab, indicated that sacks of soil containing gold were loaded onto boats at Lomera.
According to the investigation, the material was transported across Lake Kivu to Kamembe in Rwanda's Western Province.
Amnesty says witnesses described boats carrying mineralized soil from Lomera toward Rwanda, including movements taking place at night or early in the morning.
At Rubaya, the organization says witnesses also reported the presence of Rwandans working as miners or mine-shaft managers, while some were alleged to have participated alongside M23 fighters when required.
Amnesty argues that, given what it describes as significant quantities of gold and coltan being trafficked into Rwanda and alleged involvement by M23 and Rwandan-linked actors, Rwanda may face questions of responsibility if individuals involved were acting under the direction or control of the Rwandan state.
These are Amnesty International's findings and legal assessments, not a court judgment.
Mineral supply chains under scrutiny
The allegations put renewed attention on international supply chains for minerals used in electronics and other industries.
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Coltan is processed to obtain tantalum, a metal widely used in electronic components, while gold has extensive industrial, financial and consumer uses.
Amnesty argues that companies have responsibilities throughout their supply chains and warns that businesses purchasing minerals originating from Rwanda must conduct adequate human-rights due diligence where there is a risk that Congolese minerals have entered those supply chains through M23-controlled territory.
The organization says companies that knowingly contribute to the trade in pillaged minerals could potentially face legal exposure for complicity in war crimes, depending on the evidence and applicable law.
Rwanda and M23 did not respond to Amnesty
According to Amnesty International, neither M23 nor Rwandan government officials responded to its requests for comment before publication.
The new Amnesty investigation presents its own evidence and conclusions concerning Rubaya, Lomera and mineral flows into Rwanda.
Amnesty's findings have received international coverage. Spain's RTVE reported on the investigation shortly after midnight on September 21, while EFE's report carried by SWI swissinfo was published late on September 20.
The central recommendation from Amnesty is now directed not only at M23 and Rwanda but also at the governments, refiners, processors and corporations buying minerals through Rwanda: stop purchases until there is credible evidence that trafficked Congolese gold and coltan are no longer entering those supply chains.
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