Global brands ‘likely’ using mineral that funds rebels accused of atrocities in DRC, investigation finds

The M23 militia, backed by up to 7,000 Rwandan troops deployed within the DRC, captured the mines two years ago and charges a levy on each kilogram of coltan.

The UN’s group of experts have estimated that M23 gathers almost £600,000 a month from coltan taxation in Rubaya, an income used to fund the militia’s operations.

Seizing vast tracts of territory, M23 has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, raping and abducting with impunity. Rwanda denies backing the militia.

Coltan, however, has become an important revenue stream for the east African state, with the mineral becoming one of its largest export earners.

Until now, little was known about who bought the smuggled coltan. After interviewing coltan smugglers, Global Witness says that five of the seven largest Rwandan exporters of the mineral buy conflict coltan from the DRC.

Large quantities of coltan entered Rwanda through the M23-controlled city of Goma on the DRC border, Global Witness was told by sources. Photograph: Goran Tomašević/Reuters

Those exporters then sell the mineral through middlemen to smelters in China and Kazakhstan. In the smelters, the coltan is processed into tantalum. From there, it is used to manufacture the capacitors that are essential components in electronic devices.

The investigation raises questions over the complicity of Rwandan officials. One coltan smuggler alleged that the Rwandan authorities were fully aware of the practice.

Previously, much of the coltan was smuggled into Rwanda through lightly monitored border areas. However, sources told Global Witness that large quantities of the mineral now entered Rwanda through the DRC border city of Goma, which was taken over by M23 last year.

The investigation, which reviewed trade data and analysed and cross-checked customs records, indicates how due diligence systems appear to have failed to break the link between conflict and natural resources.

Theoretically, a traceability system relied on by many international companies to keep their supply chains conflict-free – known as the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (Itsci) – should mean that what goes into a phone handset and other electronics is sourced responsibly and avoids conflict financing and human rights abuses.

Sacks of coltan ore at a mine near Rubaya in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, August 2019. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

However, Global Witness say the initiative has largely failed to detect the conflict coltan. It also accuses other schemes such as the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) ofprobably being unable to discover conflict coltan being introduced into supply chains.

Kopp said: “The companies behind our phones, computers and cars haven’t been able or willing to clean up their supply chains. This fuels instability and prolongs the suffering of communities.”

Global Witness urged international companies to stop buying coltan from Rwanda until M23 has withdrawn troops from the Rubaya mines, unless they had thoroughly scrutinised the coltan before export by directly checking its origin and grading.

All companies and traceability schemes named in the article were invited to comment.

An Amazon spokesperson, Margaret Callahan, said: “We’re committed to providing products and services that are produced or supplied in a way that respects human rights and the environment – in accordance with our supply-chain standards and all applicable laws.

“While we generally don’t source from mine sites or smelters, we remain committed to responsible mineral sourcing and will continue engaging with suppliers and upstream partners on auditing mechanisms and smelter certification. We’re requesting additional due diligence from Amazon suppliers associated with the smelters identified by this report.”

An Ericsson spokesperson said they took the allegations “very seriously”, adding: “Ericsson does not source raw minerals directly. Tantalum may enter our supply chain through multiple tiers of suppliers and processors, which is why we conduct due diligence through supplier reporting, smelter identification, industry programmes, and engagement with the Responsible Minerals Initiative.

“Following the allegations raised by Global Witness, we have reviewed the named tantalum smelters against our latest supplier-reported due-diligence data.

“Based on the information currently available to us, two of the facilities referenced appear in Ericsson’s supply-chain data and are currently listed as RMI-conformant. One of the named facilities does not appear in our latest supplier-reported smelter list for 2025.

“However, reviewing RMI conformance alone is not the end of our due diligence activities. Given the seriousness of the allegations concerning coltan from the Rubaya area and the conflict situation in eastern DRC, Ericsson is treating this with the attention that it deserves.”

The company said it was seeking additional information but had not been provided with evidence that could verify if tantalum contained in Ericsson products originated from Rubaya. It added that it had requested a meeting with Global Witness.

A Vodafone spokesperson said: “We do not manufacture electronic products nor mine or directly purchase minerals and therefore do not use minerals.

“Vodafone is not distinguished from other UK and global telecom operators, technology retailers and many other high street stores, in selling electronic products.

“Companies like ours rely on certified organisations like the Responsible Minerals Initiative to verify the source of products that we get from third-party suppliers.”