M23 Rebels Tighten Control Over DRC Coltan Mines, Generating $300,000 Monthly Revenue

The M23 rebel group has solidified its control over the Rubaya coltan-mining region in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, imposing a production tax that brings in an estimated $300,000 monthly, according to a UN Security Council briefing says Reuters. The Tutsi-led group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, seized the mineral-rich area, vital for smartphone and computer manufacturing, after heavy fighting in April.