Recent Developments in North and South Kivu, DRC

Apr 24, 2025

Please note that the situation is evolving daily, and our primary focus remains on supporting and ensuring the safety of our locally based field teams. We continue to receive daily communication from them as the situation evolves and important details are provided directly to ITSCI members. We are providing brief public updates on key changes but are not publishing daily updates on the rapidly evolving situation. See our previous updates here.

The situation in North and South Kivu, DRC remains very concerning due to the ongoing presence of non-state armed group M23 and their affiliated groups on the one side, and a large number of ‘Wazalendo’ non-state armed groups fighting along with FARDC on the other. ITSCI continues to deeply regret the escalation of violence in those areas and strongly condemns all illegal actions by the M23 and human rights abuses by conflicting parties. We continue to closely monitor the rapidly evolving situation in those areas.

Developments in North Kivu

Since our last update on the situation, M23 took control of Walikale territory, including Walikale town, on 19th March, leading to the suspension of all ITSCI activities, including tagging by state mining services across Walikale territory. Activities remain suspended in Masisi and Lubero territories.

In a previous statement, we welcomed the commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by the Heads of State of both the DRC and Rwanda. Since then, AFC/M23 withdrew from Walikale territory on 2nd April and local authorities including state mining services have returned. ITSCI is currently evaluating the situation to consider the possibility to resume activities in that territory.

Developments in South Kivu

In South-Kivu, the situation and the suspension of all ITSCI activities, including tagging by state mining services at all ITSCI-monitored sites in Kalehe, Idjwi, and Uvira territories remains unchanged.

In Walungu territory, M23 is still in control of Walungu town. There are no ITSCI activities in Walungu town; the closest ITSCI-monitored mine site being located 20 km away and so far, unimpacted. Activities at ITSCI-monitored sites in Walungu territory continue, including tagging by state services.

In Kabare, Mwenga, and Shabunda territory, mining activities including tagging by state mining services continue. Local multi-stakeholder committees (CLS) continue to be held in those areas to monitor mining activities, discuss risks and their mitigation. Mining activities, however, have generally significantly slowed down due to the current lack of negociants buying minerals as well as the lack of available cash. The security situation also remains volatile, with multiple Wazalendo non-state armed group and, to a lower extent, FARDC present in certain areas erecting checkpoints and collecting illegal taxation as a ‘war effort’. ITSCI follows up on these issues via the ITSCI incident reporting mechanism.

ITSCI continued to engage with local mining operators and state services to establish alternative mineral transport routes for minerals from Mwenga, Kabare, Shabunda and Walungu territories. It is positive to note that tagged minerals from those territories have started to be transported to Maniema territory for onward trade and export.

Goma and Bukavu

Since 28th January, M23 are in control of Goma, the capital city of North Kivu and since 14th February of Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu. All formal mineral trade activities supported by ITSCI in Goma and Bukavu, including exports via ITSCI systems are therefore suspended.

M23 have been forcefully entering ITSCI exporters’ facilities in both cities seizing valuable office and field equipment as well as 3T minerals stored in the facilities. At the time of writing, a total of 483,948 kg of ITSCI-tagged 3T minerals stored at the premises of ITSCI exporter members in Goma and Bukavu were reportedly taken by M23. All these minerals were documented in ITSCI incident reports and all ITSCI tags associated with these minerals were cancelled in the ITSCI database.

Apart from those cases, one exporter in Goma and three exporters in Bukavu have so far not been impacted by M23 actions and reportedly still have minerals tagged under ITSCI systems stored in their premises and are still in control of those premises.

 

ITSCI actions

The current situation, including suspension of ITSCI activities in areas controlled by M23, creates additional risks of mineral fraud in neighbouring areas. We continue to make good faith efforts to address those risks.

In Rwanda, ITSCI continues to re-double efforts to implement rigorous checks and develop additional risk-based control mechanisms. In March, ITSCI Programme Manager met with senior management of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) to discuss the urgent need to define, agree and implement strong actions to address the current high risks.

The ITSCI Programme Manager also held a meeting with all ITSCI members in Rwanda to remind them of their company obligations for due diligence and the requirements ITSCI has applied for control measures.

We encourage anyone in the region to use our whistleblowing programme to report any risks or incidents, for us to continue reporting and advocating for appropriate actions. The ITSCI whistleblowing procedure and contact details are available online at www.itsci.org/contact/. The confidential ITSCI whistleblowing address is [email protected].

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