Key facts
- Global brands like Amazon, Ericsson, and Sony are accused of likely sourcing coltan linked to atrocities committed by the M23 militia in the DRC.
- The coltan is allegedly smuggled from mines in North Kivu province, DRC, which are controlled by the M23 militia.
- The M23 militia is accused of widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence and summary executions.
- Coltan is a crucial mineral for electronics, and the investigation suggests it is smuggled via Rwanda.
- Global Witness claims that major Rwandan coltan exporters are involved in purchasing conflict minerals from the DRC.
- Traceability initiatives like ITSCI and RMI are criticized for failing to detect conflict coltan in supply chains.
Major global brands, including Amazon, Ericsson, and Sony, are reportedly likely to have sourced coltan from mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that are occupied by the M23 militia, an armed group accused of widespread atrocities. The year-long investigation by Global Witness suggests that coltan, a vital mineral for electronics like mobile phones and computers, is smuggled from the DRC into Rwanda and then exported by Rwandan firms to smelters in China and Kazakhstan.
The investigation highlights that the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province, which holds about 15% of the world's coltan, was captured by the M23 militia two years ago. The militia allegedly charges a levy on each kilogram of coltan, generating an estimated £600,000 per month, which funds its operations. The M23 has been linked to thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in eastern DRC.
Global Witness alleges that five of the seven largest Rwandan exporters of coltan are involved in purchasing conflict minerals from the DRC. Sources indicate that large quantities of the mineral now enter Rwanda through Goma, a city on the DRC border controlled by M23. The report questions the effectiveness of due diligence systems, such as the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), in preventing conflict financing and human rights abuses.
Alex Kopp, senior policy and advocacy adviser at Global Witness, stated that the supply chains for everyday tech are "tainted by violence, exploitation and human suffering" and urged government intervention and sanctions. The RMI acknowledged concerns about the situation in eastern DRC and stated that vigilance is crucial due to incentives to work outside formal trade systems. Amazon and Ericsson both stated their commitment to responsible sourcing and are reviewing their supply chains in light of the allegations.