By Ajong Mbapndah L
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on a Rwandan gold refinery, its senior executives and affiliated mining companies over their alleged involvement in a network accused of smuggling conflict minerals from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Rwanda, marking Washington’s latest move to disrupt illicit mineral supply chains linked to armed groups operating in the region.
The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target Gasabo Gold Refinery Ltd, its Chairman Jean Malic Kalima, General Manager Bosco Kayobotsi, and three mining companies linked to Kalima.
According to the Treasury Department, the network worked in coordination with the Rwanda-backed March 23 Movement (M23) to transport gold extracted from territories under rebel control in eastern DRC before refining and exporting it through Rwanda.
“The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in announcing the measures.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mineral wealth rightfully belongs to the Congolese people. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue to take decisive action against those who enable violence, exploitation and attacks against the Congolese people.”
Supporting Regional Peace Efforts
Treasury said the sanctions are intended to reinforce implementation of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, brokered by the United States and signed by the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda in December 2025.
The agreement aims to strengthen regional economic integration, improve transparency in critical mineral supply chains and encourage legitimate trade and investment across the Great Lakes region.
U.S. officials say dismantling illicit mineral trafficking networks is essential to ensuring that revenues from the DRC’s vast deposits of gold, coltan, tin, tungsten and other strategic minerals benefit the Congolese people rather than financing armed groups.
Alleged Gold Smuggling Operation
According to OFAC, after M23 captured large areas of eastern DRC, gold extracted from mines in occupied parts of South Kivu was transported under the supervision of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and M23 fighters into neighboring Rwanda.
Treasury alleges that once the shipments reached Kigali, Gasabo Gold refined the precious metal before it entered international markets.
U.S. authorities estimate that at least 60 kilograms of gold, valued at several million dollars, were moved through the network during the early months of 2026.
The European Union had previously sanctioned Gasabo Gold over allegations that it handled illegally sourced gold originating from the DRC.
Conflict Minerals and Armed Groups
The Treasury Department said the illicit trade in minerals remains one of the principal sources of financing for armed groups operating in eastern DRC.
According to U.S. authorities, revenues generated through illegal mining and mineral trafficking have enabled M23 to purchase weapons, pay fighters and sustain military operations while contributing to widespread human rights abuses against civilians.
Treasury also cited reports linking mining operations controlled by armed groups to forced labor, child labor, sexual and gender-based violence and dangerous working conditions.
Among the incidents highlighted was the collapse of a mine shaft at the M23-controlled Rubaya coltan mine in March 2026, which reportedly killed more than 200 people, including children.
Continued U.S. Pressure
The latest measures form part of a broader U.S. sanctions campaign targeting individuals and entities accused of supporting instability in eastern DRC.
Since the signing of the Washington Accords, Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions against individuals, companies and organizations it says have provided support to M23.
Earlier this year, the United States also sanctioned the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), alleging it provided military, logistical and financial support to M23 during the group’s capture of key cities, including Goma and Bukavu.
Rwanda has consistently denied allegations that it supports M23, despite accusations from the United Nations, the United States and other international partners.
Financial Restrictions
Under the sanctions, all property and interests belonging to the designated individuals and companies that fall under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.
U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from conducting transactions with the sanctioned entities unless specifically authorized by OFAC.
Treasury also warned that foreign financial institutions and companies could face sanctions if they knowingly facilitate transactions involving the designated individuals or entities.
The latest action underscores the growing international focus on securing critical mineral supply chains as global demand for minerals essential to electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and advanced manufacturing continues to rise.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo possesses some of the world’s largest reserves of gold, cobalt, coltan, tin and other strategic minerals. Yet decades of armed conflict, illegal mining and cross-border mineral smuggling have prevented much of that resource wealth from translating into broad-based economic development for the Congolese people.
