A Chinese mining company operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday that M23 rebels had seized control of one of its gold mines in North Kivu province and were forcing staff to work without pay under coercive conditions.
The company, Twangiza Mining, issued a statement saying its employees had been taken hostage by the rebel group and were being made to work in inhumane conditions without security, medical support, or financial compensation.
“M23 fighters have occupied the mine and are exploiting it under the guise of new Rwandan investors,” the company said, adding that the armed group claimed to be acting on behalf of these alleged stakeholders.
The M23, a Tutsi-led rebel group accused of receiving backing from Rwanda, has captured several towns and strategic sites in North Kivu since resuming a major offensive in late 2021, prompting condemnation from the Congolese government and international partners.
Rwanda denies involvement
In response, Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo denied any link between Rwanda and the Chinese firm or its operations. “Rwanda has no connection to Twangiza Mining and is not involved in any such incident,” Makolo said in a statement on Monday, dismissing claims of Rwandan nationals participating in the mine seizure as “baseless.”
The incident comes just days after Rwanda and Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace agreement in Washington, raising hopes of easing a long-running conflict that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands across eastern Congo.
Despite the deal, tensions remain high in the mineral-rich region, where armed groups have long exploited weak state presence to control lucrative mining operations, especially for gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium.
Strategic region eyed by investors
The Biden administration has been working to attract Western investment into eastern Congo, hoping to secure critical mineral supplies amid global competition for battery metals used in electric vehicles and clean energy technologies.
Analysts say continued rebel activity, such as the Twangiza mine seizure, threatens to derail peace efforts and complicate plans for large-scale foreign investment.
M23 has not commented on the reported mine takeover, and Congolese military authorities have yet to issue a statement.
