2 hours ago The US has sanctioned a large golden refinery successful Rwanda and 2 of its executives, accusing them of smuggling minerals from rebel-controlled areas of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Washington alleged what it described arsenic a "network" was collaborating with the M23 rebel group, which commands tracts of DR Congo that are location to immense reserves of golden and coltan, a metallic ore cardinal to making electronics.
Despite overwhelming grounds from the likes of UN experts, Rwanda has agelong denied supporting the M23.
The authorities determination has not responded to the US' caller sanctions, but person antecedently described akin measures against Rwanda arsenic unfair and one-sided.
The sanctions, announced connected Thursday, people the Gasabo Gold Refinery, its president Jean Malic Kalima and its wide manager Bosco Kayobotsi.
In a statement, the US alleged astatine slightest 60kg of gold, valued astatine millions of US dollars, were smuggled from eastbound DR Congo to Gasabo Gold successful aboriginal 2026.
The connection accuses Rwandan authorities officials and soldiers of overseeing the system.
Last year, Gasabo Gold Refinery was sanctioned by the European Union for "exploiting the equipped conflict" successful DR Congo.
Three abstracted mining companies controlled by Kalima - Bugambira Mines, Wolfram Mining and Processing and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation - were besides sanctioned by the US connected Thursday.
The sanctioned parties person not responded to the BBC's requests for comment.
Any assets they person nether US jurisdiction volition beryllium frozen. The sanctions besides barroom American citizens and companies from dealing with the designated parties.
"The United States volition not let rogue groups to nett from the illicit mineral commercialized and destabilise the region," Treasury caput Scott Bessent said.
"The Democratic Republic of the Congo's mineral wealthiness rightfully belongs to the Congolese people."
The determination builds connected a bid deal, spearheaded by the US and signed past December by the presidents of Rwanda and DR Congo.
The statement aims to extremity the long-running struggle successful eastbound DR Congo and besides make a transparent minerals assemblage successful the region.
Donald Trump's medication besides hopes the woody volition boost US concern successful minerals successful the region, immoderate experts believe.
Fighting successful eastbound DR Congo has continued contempt the bid woody being signed.
On Wednesday, astatine a acme held to measure the interaction of the agreement, officials from DR Congo, Rwanda and the US "expressed superior interest implicit the escalating fighting", a associated connection said.
English (US)·