The United States Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Gasabo Gold Refinery and its director, Jean Malic Kalima. American authorities accuse them of facilitating the extraction, transport, and resale of gold illegally smuggled from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

According to Washington, the company worked closely with Rwandan government officials and M23 rebels. Rwandan soldiers and fighters from the armed movement allegedly secured the transport of gold to Bukavu before it was sent on to Kigali for refining.

Washington states that in early 2026, nearly 60 kilograms of gold, worth several million dollars, were illicitly transferred to Rwanda.

This decision comes amid growing allegations of looting of Congolese natural resources and ongoing violence in the eastern part of the country.

Financial sanctions

For Washington, these measures aim to prevent armed groups from profiting from the illegal exploitation of natural resources.

“The United States will not allow outlaw groups to profit from the illegal mineral trade to destabilize the region. The DRC’s mineral wealth rightfully belongs to the Congolese people,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Concretely, the sanctions freeze all assets held in the United States by the company and its director. They also prohibit any U.S. company or citizen from transacting with them. Foreign companies that use the dollar or have subsidiaries in the U.S. could also be affected.

Mineral trade at the heart of the conflict in eastern DRC

Since its resurgence in late 2021, the M23 has controlled vast territories in the eastern provinces of the DRC, rich in strategic minerals. Kinshasa, the United Nations, and several Western countries accuse Rwanda of militarily supporting the armed group, an accusation Kigali continues to reject.

Exploitation of mineral resources is one of the main sources of funding for the rebel movement. In April 2024, the M23 seized Rubaya, one of the world’s largest coltan mining sites. This area accounts for about 15% of global production of this mineral essential for manufacturing mobile phones, computers, and other electronic devices.

The armed group levies taxes on mineral extraction and trade, generating substantial revenue.

New allegations of looting Congolese resources

The U.S. sanctions come a few weeks after the publication of an investigation by the NGO Global Witness. It claims that hundreds of tons of coltan illegally extracted in eastern DRC were laundered in Rwanda before being exported to smelters that supply the supply chains of major electronics manufacturers.

According to United Nations experts, about 120 tons of coltan were exported each month to Rwanda between May and October 2024 from areas controlled by the M23.

These new sanctions illustrate Washington’s intent to target not only armed groups but also the trade networks that enable them to fund their activities. They also reignite the debate on the traceability of strategic minerals and the responsibility of international actors in global supply chains.