Goma under threat as Rwanda-backed rebels advance
13 March 2025 – Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been the battleground of a conflict that has claimed over 6 million lives in the past 27 years, making it one of the deadliest wars since World War II. Today, the city of Goma, one of the largest in the region, stands on the brink of falling into the hands of M23 rebels, a group long believed to be armed and backed by Rwanda’s military forces. This war, fuelled by the control of gold, coltan, and other precious minerals, threatens to destabilise the entire region, displacing millions and increasing the risk of a broader international conflict.
The world has seen similar conflicts before. In the film Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character exploits the violence between warring militias to trade diamonds, with little regard for human life. The film exposed the West’s complicity in the trade of blood diamonds—precious stones mined in war zones and used to finance conflicts. While the situation in eastern Congo is not a sequel to the film, the plot remains eerily familiar.
Escalation of violence in North Kivu
Since the start of 2024, tensions in the mineral-rich province of North Kivu have escalated dramatically. The M23 militia, with direct support from Rwanda, has intensified its attacks, advancing towards Goma. Reports from UN experts have consistently stated since 2009 that Rwanda has deployed its regular army on Congolese soil, in a blatant violation of the DRC’s sovereignty. The result? Regular massacres, mass displacement, and a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions.
By Friday, Congolese authorities reported rising casualties in Goma, with the death toll climbing daily. The conflict is also spilling over into Rwanda, creating fears of a broader regional war between the two nations.
In response, the United Nations Security Council has condemned the “brazen disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DR Congo.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres has explicitly called on “the Rwandan Defence Forces to stop supporting the M23 and withdraw from Congolese territory.” Yet, despite these statements, the fighting continues, with no signs of de-escalation.
Rwanda’s role: A global hub for Congo’s stolen minerals
One of the driving forces behind Rwanda’s intervention is economic. Rwanda, despite having no significant coltan or tantalum mines of its own, has become the world’s leading exporter of these critical minerals. Coltan, used to manufacture tantalum—a metal essential for smartphones, laptops, and military technology—is a billion-dollar industry. Yet, over 60–80% of the world’s coltan reserves are found in the DRC, particularly in North Kivu.
A UN Security Council report in December 2024 confirmed that Rwandan companies were illegally extracting and exporting coltan from Congo. At the end of April 2024, the M23 militia seized control of the Rubaya mine, which produces 15% of the world’s tantalum. Since then, at least 150 tonnes of coltan have been smuggled into Rwanda, bypassing international regulations and funding the very conflict that is tearing Congo apart.
Economic data further exposes Rwanda’s role in the illicit trade. According to the Central Bank of Rwanda, gold now accounts for a third of Rwanda’s export revenues, even though the country officially produces only 3 kilograms of gold per year. This discrepancy suggests large-scale mineral smuggling from Congo, orchestrated with the backing of the Rwandan government and military.
Towards Rwandan control of eastern Congo?
Analysts suggest that mineral exploitation is only one aspect of Rwanda’s ambitions in Congo. Erik Kennes, a senior researcher at the Egmont Institute, argues that Rwanda’s real goal is the permanent occupation of eastern Congo. He dismisses Rwanda’s claims that its military presence is to counter threats from FDLR rebels—a militia formed by remnants of the 1994 Hutu genocide perpetrators—pointing out that the FDLR has not launched an attack on Rwanda in over 20 years and now consists of fewer than 300 members.
Instead, Kennes suggests that Rwanda’s true motive lies in securing permanent control over Congolese territory, ensuring uninterrupted access to its natural resources and strategic trade routes.
European condemnation vs. economic collaboration
While the UN and European governments have strongly condemned Rwanda’s involvement, their actions tell a different story. On 27 January 2025, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin denounced the “unacceptable violation of the DRC’s territorial integrity”, calling for “concrete action” to uphold international law. France’s Jean-Noël Barrot echoed similar sentiments, demanding an immediate withdrawal of M23 forces from Congo.
However, these statements contrast sharply with Europe’s economic partnerships with Rwanda. In early 2024, the European Union (EU) signed a €40 million deal with Rwanda, supposedly to help fight jihadism in Mozambique. Yet, much of this funding supports Rwanda’s military, the same army accused of fueling instability in Congo.
Additionally, the EU’s “Strategic Minerals Protocol” with Rwanda allows European tech companies to import Rwandan-labelled coltan, tantalum, and gold, despite clear evidence that these resources originate from Congo. Belgian MEP Marc Botenga criticised the agreement, stating:
“The EU claims to support Congolese sovereignty, yet it continues to fund the Rwandan army and facilitate the plundering of Congolese minerals. How can Europe condemn Rwanda’s actions while directly benefiting from them?”
“Stopping Rwanda’s war in Congo is easy”
According to American professor Jason Stearns, an expert on Congolese conflicts, ending Rwanda’s aggression should be straightforward. Writing in The Financial Times, he argues that:
“Western leaders could stop this war immediately. Rwanda, the primary instigator, is heavily dependent on foreign aid. Yet, despite multiple UN reports proving its military involvement in Congo, no meaningful sanctions have been imposed.”
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Stearns highlights the double standards of Western powers, comparing their swift reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to their indifference towards Rwanda’s occupation of Congo.
“We denounce Russian aggression in Ukraine, yet remain silent while millions are displaced in central Africa. Why does the West apply different standards when African lives are at stake?”
Africa needs peace, not war
As Rwanda continues its military and economic expansion into Congo, the risk of a regional war grows. Uganda, Burundi, Angola, and South Africa all have strategic interests in eastern Congo, and their involvement could ignite a larger conflict.
For decades, the United States and European powers have exploited Congo’s instability for economic gain. Now, the question remains:
Will the international community finally hold Rwanda accountable and stop the blood minerals trade—or will they continue to profit from Congo’s suffering while turning a blind eye to the atrocities unfolding before them?
