Mine shafts wind beneath the mountains of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but instead of benefiting the Congolese government, the region’s rich mineral deposits are lining the pockets of the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group.
Since its resurgence in 2021, the M23 has seized vast tracts of land in eastern DRC, an area rich in minerals but scarred by decades of conflict. The group imposes hefty taxes on the natural resources extracted from these lands.
The M23’s most valuable territorial gain is the DRC’s largest coltan mine, which generates around $800,000 in revenue each month, according to UN experts. Coltan, a mineral from which tantalum is extracted, is crucial in the production of electronics such as mobile phones and laptops.
The group has controlled the Rubaya mine and surrounding areas in North Kivu province since 2024, establishing its own administration in the areas it occupies.
Last week, Bahati Eraston, the M23-appointed governor of North Kivu, made his first visit to the Rubaya mining town. The visit prompted local miners to cease work and attend a meeting with Eraston.
During his visit, the M23 launched a recruitment campaign, urging locals to join its efforts to overthrow the government in Kinshasa, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) to the west.
“Where are the young people? Let them come and join us,” Eraston called into a microphone.
A few dozen young men and women pushed through the crowd to register, drawing cheers from spectators, though it was unclear whether their support was genuine.
