In the mist-veiled highlands of Masisi territory, a silent war for control over one of the world’s most strategic minerals is raging. Rubaya, a remote town in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has once again found itself at the heart of a global supply chain entangled in armed conflict and rebel rule.
Since April 2024, the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group has maintained control over Rubaya’s lucrative coltan mining sites. The ore - columbite-tantalite, commonly known as coltan - yields tantalum, a rare metal essential for manufacturing smartphones, fighter jets, medical implants, and advanced electronics. According to United Nations estimates, Rubaya alone accounts for more than 15 percent of the world's tantalum supply.
