DRC Hands Over Rubaya Mines Controlled by AFC/M23 to US Investors

Kinshasa, February 19, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government has handed over mines in the Rubaya area of Masisi Territory, long controlled by the AFC/M23 group, to US investors, officials confirmed. A government document listing Rubaya and other mining sites was submitted to US representatives on February 5, 2026, during the inaugural meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee in Washington. The committee was established under a cooperation agreement signed in December 2025, focusing on the mining and processing of precious metals. The list of mines provided by the DRC was intended for review by US investors to confirm the presence of essential minerals and identify any potential obstacles to extraction. Government Perspective DRC Minister of Economy, Daniel Mukoko Samba, emphasized that the government remains responsible for mines, even those not under its direct control. “The fact that the Rubaya site is not under the control of government forces today does not mean that we, the DRC government, will not hand them over to our partners,” he said. AFC/M23 Reaction Bertrand Bisimwa, Deputy Director for Political, Diplomatic, and Governance Affairs of AFC/M23, criticized the handover, calling it a sign of government weakness. “Selling publicly assets that one does not own or does not control is a way of fighting and surviving,” Bisimwa said. The Rubaya mines, under AFC/M23 control since May 2024, are highly strategic, containing up to 15% of the world’s Coltan, making them a key resource in the global minerals market. The handover marks a significant development in the DRC-US mining partnership, even as the DRC government grapples with limited control over territories in the east.