UN: Civil Society in Eastern DRC Denounces 'Economic War' Fueled by Minerals

During a UN Security Council session, Néné Bintou Iragi, a representative of civil society from North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, described the security, humanitarian, and human rights crisis in eastern DRC as a collapse. She reported that armed groups under AFC/M23 control impose illegal taxes and commit abuses in areas like Goma, Bukavu, and others. She also stated that the conflict is mainly driven by economic interests, with illegal exploitation of minerals such as cassiterite, coltan, and gold, which are transported, mixed, and exported illicitly, fueling a war financed by these resources.