In the resource-rich hills of North Kivu’s Masisi territory, thousands of artisanal miners extract strategic minerals such as coltan, cassiterite, and manganese, vital for global technology industries. However, the region remains embroiled in decades of armed conflict, with over 100 militias vying for territorial control.

The Rubaya mining site, now controlled by the M23 armed group, lies at the heart of tensions. The Congolese government accuses M23 of seizing mineral resources and illegally smuggling them into Rwanda, exacerbating instability.

Miners, however, say daily life remains unchanged, with some citing less harassment under rebel rule compared to past militia control by the Wazalendo, a militia allied with the Congolese army.

For miners like Jean Baptiste Bigirimana, wages remain desperately low:
“I get $40 a month, but that’s not enough. Children need clothes, education, and food.”

Trader Bahati Moïse, who resells coltan, lamented the disconnect between the global reliance on Congolese minerals and the conditions of those who mine them:
“The world knows that phones are made from coltan that comes from here, but look at our lives. We can’t continue like this.”

In April, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversaw a peace pledge between Congo and Rwanda, aiming to stabilize the region and secure U.S. access to Congo’s minerals. President Felix Tshisekedi sought American investment in exchange for diplomatic intervention to reduce armed violence.

While the deal offers hope for stability, analysts question whether economic incentives alone can end militia violence that has defied peacekeeping efforts since the 1990s.

IN THIS ARTICLE