The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda’s Gasabo Gold Refinery and two of its top executives. This came over allegations that the company smuggled gold from rebel-controlled parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The sanctions, announced on Thursday, also target the refinery’s chairman, Jean Malic Kalima, and general manager, Bosco Kayobotsi. According to the US Treasury Department, the refinery is part of a network accused of working with the M23 rebel group to traffic minerals from eastern DR Congo.
US authorities claim that at least 60 kilograms of gold worth millions of dollars were transported from eastern DR Congo to the refinery in early 2026. Washington also alleges that some Rwandan government officials and soldiers oversaw the smuggling operation.
In addition to the refinery, three mining companies linked to Kalima—Bugambira Mines, Wolfram Mining and Processing, and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation, have also been sanctioned.
The sanctions freeze any assets the affected individuals or companies hold under US jurisdiction. It also prohibits American businesses and citizens from conducting transactions with them.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions are aimed at stopping armed groups from profiting through the illegal mineral trade.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mineral wealth rightfully belongs to the Congolese people,” Bessent said.
The Rwandan government has not responded to the latest sanctions. However, Kigali has consistently denied supporting the rebel group despite repeated findings by United Nations experts and other international bodies.
The Gasabo Gold Refinery was also sanctioned by the European Union in 2025. This came over allegations that it benefited from the conflict in eastern DR Congo.
The latest US action comes months after Rwanda and DR Congo signed a US-backed peace agreement. It was aimed at ending years of conflict and creating a transparent regional minerals trade. Despite the deal, fighting has continued in eastern DR Congo, raising fresh concerns about stability in the region.
The sanctions underscore growing international pressure to curb illegal mineral trafficking. To also reduce financing for armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo.
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