" Congo gold miner says M23 rebels force staff to work without pay" 30 June 2025

Gold miner Twangiza Mining SA has accused Rwanda-backed M23 rebels of forcing its employees to work against their will and without pay after seizing its mine in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

M23 staged a lightning advance earlier this year in eastern Congo, taking control of more land than ever before in North and South Kivu provinces. The Twangiza Mining site is located in South Kivu province.

In May, the company said it had been ordered to suspend operations at the mine after M23 accused it of not paying taxes. In a new statement dated Friday, Twangiza Mining, which is headquartered in Congo and describes itself as a Chinese firm, said its workers were being "held in captivity, forced to work in inhuman conditions, without any security measure, remuneration or medical coverage."