The United States has imposed sanctions on a Congolese armed group and several companies linked to illegal mineral trading in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as Washington intensifies efforts to secure access to critical resources in the region.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State and Treasury Departments announced sanctions against the PARECO armed group, which controlled the coltan-rich Rubaya mining site from 2022 to early 2024. According to a senior U.S. official, PARECO profited through unauthorized mining operations, extortion of miners, smuggling, forced labor, and civilian executions.
The U.S. also sanctioned Congolese mining firm CDMC for allegedly selling minerals sourced from Rubaya, along with two Hong Kong based exporters East Rise and Star Dragon that purchased minerals from the area. All assets held by these entities in the U.S. or under U.S. jurisdiction are now frozen, and American entities are barred from conducting business with them.
Rubaya is currently held by the M23 rebel group, which is already under U.S. sanctions. The region remains volatile, plagued by decades of conflict involving government forces and armed factions, including the Rwanda backed M23. Their resurgence has deepened the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo.
In June, the U.S. helped broker a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda aimed at ending hostilities and facilitating American access to strategic minerals. A permanent peace deal between Congo and M23 was scheduled for signing by August 18. However, renewed clashes have jeopardized the process, with both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
