The US has announced sanctions targeting a Congolese militia group, a mining company and two Hong Kong-based exporters over their alleged involvement in the illicit trade of critical minerals, according to a Reuters report.
These measures represent the most recent efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to establish peace in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched a rapid offensive in the region earlier this year, resulting in violence that has claimed thousands of lives.
The US Treasury Department identified the Coalition des Patriotes Resistants Congolais-Forces de Frappe (PARECO-FF) as a militia controlling mining sites in the Rubaya region, which produces 15% of the world’s coltan.
Coltan is a key mineral in the electronics industry, processed into tantalum, a metal used in mobile phones, computers and other applications.
In addition to PARECO-FF, the Cooperative des Artisanaux Miniers du Congo (CDMC), a Congolese mining company, has been sanctioned for allegedly selling minerals smuggled from militia-controlled areas.
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By GlobalDataThe sanctions also extend to East Rise Corporation and Star Dragon Corporation, both based in Hong Kong and accused of purchasing these illicit minerals.
A senior US Government official expressed the intention behind the sanctions, stating, “to make the licit trade that much more appealing”.
The Trump administration believes that peace in the region could lead to significant Western investments due to the abundance of valuable minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium.
The UN reported that the Congolese army received support from PARECO-FF in late 2024 and early 2025.
However, responses from the Congolese Government, East Rise, Star Dragon, CDMC, and PARECO-FF regarding the sanctions were not immediately available.
The US is currently facilitating discussions between the DRC and Rwanda, while Qatar hosts direct talks between Congo and M23.
The senior US official acknowledged M23’s involvement in mineral smuggling and noted existing sanctions against the group.
The official added that the administration’s goal is to deter “spoilers” profiting from the illegal mineral trade and promote a stable environment for US investment.
Additionally, IXM, owned by China’s CMOC Group, declared force majeure on cobalt deliveries from the DRC following an extension of the country’s export ban on the battery material.
This decision was made to address oversupply and support cobalt prices, which stood at around $10 per pound in February 2025.
