DRC rebels muddy minerals market with illegal Rwanda exports: UN report

Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fraudulently exported at least 150 metric tons of coltan to Rwanda last year, leading to the largest contamination of the Great Lakes region’s mineral supply chain on record, UN experts said in a report.The flows started after the M23 movement, a Tutsi-led organisation purportedly backed by Rwanda, seized the Rubaya area, which produces minerals used in smartphones and computers, following intense fighting in April.M23’s control of transport routes from Rubaya to Rwanda led to Rubaya minerals mixing in with Rwandan production, the UN…