The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has extended a ban on trading artisanally mined minerals from the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, affected by fighting between the army and rebel groups, for an additional six months. The Ministry of Mines announced this on social media.
The ban applies to 38 mining sites where coltan, cassiterite, and wolframite—key components for producing tin, tantalum, and tungsten—are extracted.
In 2024, the DRC filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of Apple, alleging that their supply chains used minerals mined in conflict zones. Apple denied the accusations, stating it had instructed suppliers to stop sourcing minerals from DR Congo and Rwanda.
The Rwandan-backed rebel group "March 23 Movement" (M23) and other armed factions have seized significant territory in the mineral-rich eastern part of Congo. In early 2025, M23 intensified its activities in eastern DRC. Authorities reported the capture of key cities in North and South Kivu provinces and alleged Rwandan support for the rebels, which Kigali denies.
In October, the DRC government and the AFC/M23 coalition signed an agreement to establish a mechanism for monitoring compliance with the ceasefire. The monitoring group includes Qatar, the United States, and the African Union as observers. The first violation of the agreement occurred just days after the document was signed.
Earlier in November, the DRC government and rebels from the "Alliance of the Congo River" (AFC) and "March 23 Movement" (M23) coalition signed a framework agreement to resolve the conflict. Under this agreement, the parties commit to adhering to the ceasefire in eastern DRC and jointly working on the text of a final peace settlement.
