US Sanctions Rwandan Refinery Over Smuggling

The United States Treasury Department sanctioned the Gasabo Gold Refinery and two of its senior executives on Thursday, citing their involvement in a network that smuggled minerals from rebel-controlled territories in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The sanctions target chairman Jean Malic Kalima and general manager Bosco Kayobotsi, alongside three additional mining companies linked to Kalima, for allegedly facilitating the illicit trade of gold to fund the M23 rebel group.

The mechanism of the illicit trade involves the extraction of minerals from eastern DR Congo, which are then transported across the border to Rwanda for processing and export. The Treasury alleges that at least 60 kilograms of gold, valued at several million dollars, were processed by Gasabo Gold in early 2026. This activity directly undermines regional stability and violates international efforts to decouple mineral supply chains from armed conflict.

These measures freeze all assets held by the designated parties under US jurisdiction and prohibit American entities from conducting business with them. The action follows a December peace agreement between Rwanda and the DR Congo intended to stabilize the region and formalize the mineral sector. Despite the diplomatic framework, ongoing violence persists, prompting the US to intensify economic pressure on entities accused of exploiting the conflict for financial gain.