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Spotlight | DRC
Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network

Published on 06.07.2023 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 5 minutes

Edouard Mwangachuchu, founder and former director of SMB, in the mining territory of Masisi, in 2011 © Zuma/REA

Tonnes of the strategic mineral coltan are being extracted and exported illegally from mines owned by the family of MP Edouard Mwangachuchu Hizi, who is currently being tried by a military court. Armed groups have been trafficking the mineral, allegedly with the complicity of the security forces.

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Spotlight | DRC
Rubaya mine at heart of vast coltan trafficking network