M23 Rebels Seize Congo Goldmine, Force Unpaid Labour

Twangiza Mining SA, a Chinese-owned gold mining company in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of forcibly seizing its mine and compelling employees to work without pay or adequate protections. The mine was ordered to suspend operations in May 2025 after M23 accused the company of tax evasion, but rebels allegedly continue to exploit the gold mine for their own profit under inhumane conditions, describing workers as held in captivity and treated like slaves. M23 has expanded its territorial control across North and South Kivu provinces this year, contributing to a broader humanitarian crisis with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands displaced. Congo, the United Nations, and Western powers accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and arms, allegations that Rwanda denies, asserting its forces act in self-defense and that accusations against its citizens are baseless. Recently, Rwanda and Congo’s foreign ministers signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal aimed at ending the conflict. Despite this, the situation at Twangiza highlights ongoing tensions over resource control and foreign involvement in the region's instability.