Us sanctions rwandan gold refinery over drc mineral smuggling

Crédit photo, Getty Images

The United States has imposed sanctions on a major gold refinery in Rwanda and two of its top officials, accusing them of smuggling minerals from rebel-held areas in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Washington alleges that what it calls a “network” collaborated with the M23 rebel group, which controls parts of eastern DRC that hold vast gold and coltan reserves—coltan being a key metal for electronics manufacturing.

Rwanda has long denied backing the M23, despite overwhelming evidence from United Nations experts. The Rwandan government has not responded to the latest U.S. sanctions, but in the past it has described similar measures as unfair and biased.

The sanctions, announced Thursday, target the Gasabo Gold refinery, its chairman Jean Malic Kalima, and its managing director Bosco Kayobotsi.

According to a U.S. Treasury statement, at least 60 kilograms of gold—worth several million dollars—was smuggled from eastern DRC to Gasabo Gold in early 2026. The statement also accuses Rwandan government officials and soldiers of overseeing the operation.

Last year, the European Union had already sanctioned Gasabo Gold for “profiting from the armed conflict” in the DRC.

Three mining companies controlled by Kalima—Bugambira Mines, Wolfram Mining and Processing, and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation—were also sanctioned by the United States on Thursday. The targeted entities did not respond to requests for comment.

All assets under U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen, and U.S. citizens and companies are prohibited from doing business with the designated parties.

“The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The mineral wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo rightfully belongs to the Congolese people.”

This action builds on a peace agreement brokered by the United States and signed last December by the presidents of Rwanda and the DRC. The pact aims to end the long-running conflict in eastern DRC and establish a transparent mining sector in the region. The Trump administration also hopes the deal will boost U.S. investment in the region’s minerals, according to some experts.

Despite the peace agreement, fighting in eastern DRC continues. During a summit Wednesday to assess the accord’s impact, officials from the DRC, Rwanda, and the United States “expressed grave concern over the escalation of fighting,” a joint statement said.