Credit to @AmnestyEARO for naming Rwanda, not just M23. The two aren't separate problems, they're one supply chain. The coltan and gold #M23 controls at the mine face leaves eastern #DRCongo and reappears as "Rwandan" exports. A country with negligible reserves of its own has become one of the world's top coltan exporters. That laundering is the trafficking.
Indeed, global companies should stop buying gold and coltan from Kagame's Rwanda until the regime ends trafficking of minerals tainted with human rights abuses from eastern DRC.
Amnesty International accused the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo of carrying out abuses and unlawful killings of miners while trafficking critical minerals to neighboring Rwanda, in what could amount to war crimes. https://t.co/ebepzfF9Py
In eastern DRC, Rwanda-backed (M23) fighters have committed horrific human rights abuses against artisanal miners while facilitating the trafficking of gold and coltan to neighbouring Rwanda with the help of Rwandan authorities. A miner's testimony.
https://t.co/KjzN91028Z
Amnesty International affirme avoir documenté des exécutions sommaires, des actes de torture, des détentions arbitraires et du travail forcé dans des mines contrôlées par le M23 au #Kivu. L’organisation rapporte également que de l’or provenant de ces zones minières est acheminé vers le Rwanda.
https://t.co/jBtyLQjF6Y
M23 fighters have been forcing miners to dig minerals, often forcing them to work underground for more than a week at a time in coltan mines.
The violations may amount to war crimes under international law. Read more 👇 https://t.co/KacSN0FvTZ
Gold and coltan should never come at the price of human lives.
Our new @amnesty investigation documents summary killings, torture, forced labor and recruitment of artisanal miners by Rwanda-backed M23 in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, abuses that may amount to war crimes. We also found evidence of gold and coltan being trafficked into Rwanda, with M23’s plunder of these minerals likely amounting to the war crime of pillage.
These minerals end up in supply chains feeding electronic devices used by millions around the world. Companies and governments cannot claim ignorance.
The pillage must end. Those responsible must be held accountable, and corporations must ensure their supply chains are not fueling atrocities.
https://t.co/WshcqZSgDd
AVIS FERME AUX GROUPES TERRORISTES RWANDAIS 🇷🇼OPÉRANT À #MINEMBWE
Les #FARDC, en coordination avec les forces burundaises, adressent un avertissement ferme à tous les terroristes Rwandais présents à #Minembwe: vous disposez de 48 heures pour déposer les armes et vous rendre auprès de nos forces présentes sur le terrain.
Passé ce délai, ceux qui choisiront de poursuivre les hostilités devront assumer les conséquences de leurs actes. Les forces engagées resteront déterminées à protéger les populations, défendre l’intégrité territoriale de la #RDC et rétablir la sécurité.
Le délai est de 48 heures. Déposez les armes et rendez-vous, ou assumez les conséquences légales et militaires de la poursuite des hostilités.
🇨🇩 Amnesty International is calling on governments and companies to stop buying gold and coltan from Rwanda.
A new investigation alleges that minerals from M23-controlled mining areas in eastern DRC are being trafficked into Rwanda, while documenting alleged killings, torture, forced labour and forced recruitment of miners at Rubaya and Lomera.
Amnesty says purchases should remain suspended until Rwanda provides concrete evidence that trafficked Congolese minerals are no longer entering its supply chains.
Read more: https://t.co/GYuyM58oEy