Mineral Smuggling From Congo to Rwanda at ‘Unprecedented Levels’, UN Says

A miner holds tungsten ore at a mine near Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Photographer: Kuni Takahashi/Getty Images

Mineral smuggling from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo into neighboring Rwanda has reached “unprecedented levels” amid the occupation of a large swath of the region by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, according to a United Nations experts report.

The illegal trade has “jeopardized” tin, tantalum and tungsten exports from the region, according to a copy of the report due to be released this week by the UN Security Council and seen by Bloomberg.