The United States has imposed sanctions on a Kigali-based gold refinery and an alleged network of mining companies accused of helping launder millions of dollars’ worth oAf conflict gold controlled by the M23 rebel movement.
The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), target Gasabo Gold Refinery LTD, its chairman Jean Malic Kalima, general manager Bosco Kayobotsi, and three mining companies owned by Kalima.
Washington alleges that the refinery has served as a crucial conduit for gold illegally extracted from M23-controlled territory in eastern DRC before being refined and integrated into legitimate international markets.
The move marks one of the strongest financial actions taken by the United States against actors accused of profiting from the mineral-rich conflict zones of eastern Congo and signals Washington’s determination to enforce the peace commitments made under the U.S.-brokered Washington Accords.
The U.S. Treasury accused the sanctioned entities of enabling one of Africa’s most lucrative illicit mineral supply chains.
According to Treasury, once gold is extracted from mines located in territories occupied by M23 rebels in South Kivu Province, the precious metal is allegedly transported under the protection and supervision of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) before crossing into Rwanda.
The gold is then allegedly delivered to Gasabo Gold Refinery in Kigali, where it is refined and prepared for entry into international markets.
Treasury says the operation effectively launders conflict gold, disguising its origins and allowing armed groups to generate enormous revenues from minerals that legally belong to the Congolese state.
Officials estimate that during early 2026 alone, at least 60 kilograms of gold, worth several million U.S. dollars, were moved from eastern Congo to the refinery through the alleged smuggling network.
“The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said while announcing the sanctions.
He added that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s vast mineral wealth “rightfully belongs to the Congolese people” and pledged continued action against individuals and companies accused of enabling violence and exploitation.
The latest sanctions pile additional diplomatic pressure on Rwanda, which has repeatedly faced accusations from the United Nations, Western governments and Kinshasa of backing M23 rebels operating in eastern Congo.
Rwanda has consistently denied providing military support to M23, arguing instead that its security concerns stem from armed groups operating inside the DRC, particularly the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
Treasury states that M23 captured large portions of eastern DRC—including the provincial capitals of Goma and Bukavu—with “direct military, financial and logistical support” from the Rwanda Defence Force.
In March this year, Washington imposed sanctions directly on the Rwanda Defence Force itself, accusing it of actively supporting and fighting alongside M23 forces.
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo possesses some of the world’s richest deposits of strategic minerals, including gold, coltan, tin, tungsten and tantalum.
These minerals are indispensable for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, military equipment, semiconductors and countless modern electronic devices.
For decades, control over these resources has fuelled armed conflicts involving rebel groups, militias and criminal networks.
According to U.S. authorities, M23 has exploited its military control over mining regions to generate revenue that is subsequently used to purchase weapons, pay fighters and sustain military operations.
Treasury argues that this illicit economy not only finances violence but also deprives the Congolese government of billions of dollars in legitimate mining revenues.
The illegal trade also undermines responsible investors seeking to develop lawful mining operations within the country.
Beyond financial crimes, Washington linked the illicit mineral trade directly to widespread human rights abuses.
The European Union had previously sanctioned Gasabo Gold over similar allegations involving illegally sourced Congolese gold.
Besides Gasabo Gold, Treasury also sanctioned several mining companies allegedly controlled by chairman Jean Malic Kalima.
The companies include:
- Bugambira Mines LTD
- Wolfram Mining and Processing LTD
- Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation LTD
According to OFAC, these firms were designated because they are allegedly owned or controlled by Kalima, who himself was sanctioned for acting on behalf of Gasabo Gold.
General Manager Bosco Kayobotsi was similarly designated under U.S. sanctions regulations.
Under Executive Order 13413, the United States may sanction individuals and companies that materially support armed groups threatening peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo or participate in the illicit exploitation of Congolese natural resources.
