M23 Seizes Multiple Mining Sites from Wazalendo, FARDC, and FDLR in Eastern DRC

At least 34 mining sites across chiefdoms such as Ngweshe, Nindja, Mushinga, and Kaziba are linked to Nzibira as a collection point. These sites employ thousands of diggers and produce significant quantities of gold, cassiterite (tin ore), and wolframite—minerals that are vital in global electronics and industrial supply chains.

The largest operation, Mukungwe in Ngweshe chiefdom, alone employs more than 1,500 miners extracting gold. Other key sites include Nyamurhale (340 miners, gold), Misheke G18 (600 miners, cassiterite), and Tchosho (300 miners, cassiterite).

For years, this vast mineral wealth was funneled into the pockets of local militias, including the Wazalendo coalition, the FDLR, and elements of the Congolese army (FARDC), many of whose commanders styled themselves as “generals” while profiting from illicit mining revenues.