UAE Cuts Rwanda Out, Begins Buying Gold Directly From Congo

Why the UAE Changed Its Congo Gold Strategy

The United Arab Emirates has decisively shifted its gold sourcing strategy in Central Africa, opting to buy gold directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and bypass Rwanda — a move that strikes at the heart of what Congolese officials and international investigators describe as years of systematic smuggling of Congolese gold through Kigali.

The turning point came on February 2 in Abu Dhabi, with the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Kinshasa and Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Presidents Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

How Congolese Gold Was Routed Through Rwanda

For years, eastern Congo’s gold has quietly flowed out through Rwanda. In 2024 alone, Rwanda exported $1.07 billion in gold to the UAE, despite limited domestic production. Multiple investigations, including by The Sentry, an NGO co-founded by George Clooney, have documented how much of this gold originated in North and South Kivu, areas destabilized by Rwanda-backed armed groups, including the M23.

The figures are stark. According to The Sentry, Rwanda exported more than $800 million worth of gold between January and March 2025, coinciding with the occupation of several Congolese mining sites by M23 rebels. For Kinshasa, the conclusion has long been clear: Congo was being looted, while Rwanda acted as the laundering corridor.

What the CEPA Agreement Really Changes

The Kinshasa–Abu Dhabi agreement is designed to collapse that smuggling architecture.

Under CEPA, the UAE commits to sourcing gold directly from Congolese channels, within a formalized, traceable framework covering trade in goods and services, rules of origin, e-commerce, and private investment promotion.

“This agreement embodies a shared commitment to dismantling mafia networks through transparency,” said Foreign Trade Minister Julien Paluku, stressing that the deal aims to end opaque supply chains that have deprived Congo of revenues for decades.

Crucially, the agreement does not emerge overnight. Kinshasa and Abu Dhabi began formalizing trade relations as early as 2021, laying the groundwork for a controlled, state-to-state economic relationship.

Primera Gold: Proof That Direct Trade Works

The most tangible symbol of this shift is Primera Gold, a gold refinery established in Bukavu in 2023. Its impact has been transformative.

Before Primera, the DRC officially exported between 5 and 10 kilograms of artisanal gold per year, with a historical peak of just 34 kg in 2020 — a statistical absurdity for a country sitting atop some of Africa’s richest gold reserves.

That changed overnight.

• 2023: 5,000 kg exported

• 2024: between 7,000 and 9,000 kg

• Average: ~800 kg per month

In just 45 days, Primera exported more gold than the DRC had officially exported in the previous 15 years combined — a 12,000% increase in recorded exports in 2023 alone.

“This is an unprecedented revolution,” Minister Paluku said. “It’s up to each individual to make their own economic choice.”

The Role of Conflict and Armed Groups in Gold Smuggling

Ironically, despite holding a 55% Emirati stake, the UAE withdrew from the Primera Gold partnership in 2024 after export volumes temporarily collapsed — a disruption Congolese officials attribute to sabotage, pressure from illicit networks, and regional instability.

But the strategic direction has not changed. The new CEPA framework signals that Abu Dhabi has chosen state legitimacy over shadow trade, dealing directly with Kinshasa rather than relying on Kigali as an intermediary.

What This Means for Rwanda’s Export Model

Beyond economics, the deal carries heavy political consequences. By formalizing direct gold trade with Congo, the UAE effectively undermines Rwanda’s role as a regional gold hub, weakening a system that critics say financed armed groups and prolonged conflict in eastern Congo.

Congo is no longer willing to subsidize its own destabilization. But for Kigali, the loss of direct access to Emirati gold markets threatens a lucrative and controversial revenue stream.