US Imposes Sanctions on Rwandan Gold Refinery

The US has sanctioned Gasabo Gold Refinery in Rwanda for smuggling minerals from conflict areas in DR Congo, targeting key executives involved.

The US has sanctioned a prominent gold refinery in Rwanda, along with two of its executives, following accusations of smuggling minerals from areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo controlled by rebel groups. The Gasabo Gold Refinery, its chairman Jean Malic Kalima, and general manager Bosco Kayobotsi are at the center of these allegations.

Washington claims that a “network” linked to the M23 rebel group in DR Congo is operating in tandem with the refinery, which has been implicated in the movement of valuable resources including gold and coltan, a crucial metallic ore in electronics.

Rwanda, for its part, has consistently denied supporting the M23 and has not officially responded to this latest round of sanctions. Previous similar sanctions have been described by Rwandan officials as unjust and biased.

The US maintains that at least 60 kilograms of gold—valued at millions of dollars—were illicitly transported from eastern DR Congo to the Gasabo Gold Refinery early in 2026. Additionally, the US statement suggests Rwandan government officials and military personnel may be complicit in the smuggling operations.

This is not the first time Gasabo Gold Refinery has faced scrutiny; last year, it was also sanctioned by the European Union for allegedly exploiting the ongoing armed conflict in DR Congo.

The US sanctions extend to three mining companies controlled by Kalima: Bugambira Mines, Wolfram Mining and Processing, and Rwinkwavu Mining Corporation. Assets belonging to these sanctioned entities that fall under US jurisdiction will be frozen, and American citizens and companies will be prohibited from engaging in transactions with the designated individuals and companies.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “The United States will not allow rogue groups to profit from the illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region,” reinforcing the idea that the mineral wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should benefit its own citizens.

The sanctions align with a peace agreement, led by the US, that was signed in December by the presidents of Rwanda and DR Congo. This agreement seeks to resolve the longstanding conflict in eastern DR Congo and aims to facilitate a transparent mineral sector in the area.

Despite the signing of the peace deal, violence has persisted in eastern DR Congo. At a summit held to evaluate the agreement’s impact, officials from DR Congo, Rwanda, and the US expressed serious concerns regarding the escalating violence in the region.