What Could Be The Real Reason Behind M23 War in DRC?

Uganda Today Edition: What Could Be The Real Reason Behind M23 War in DRC?

By Uganda Today Analytical Desk

Have you ever seen a game of chess where every move is calculated, but the real battle is not about kings and queens, but about gold? The ongoing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is not about ideology, ethnicity, or governance—it’s about gold. And at the center of this conflict are powerful players, the biggest being Rwandan President Paul Kagame and a Belgian gold dealer named Alain Goetz.

Who is Alain Goetz?

Alain Goetz is a controversial Belgian businessman known for his dealings in African gold. He is the man in a widely circulated photograph with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, both examining what is believed to be gold smuggled from the DRC. Goetz is not just another gold trader; he is a key player in the conflict, having helped establish Rwanda’s gold refinery in 2019.

The Rise of Rwanda’s Gold Exports

In 2019, a company called Aldango Ltd, co-owned by Goetz and Hilly Metals Ltd, partnered with the Rwandan government’s Ngali Mining to establish a gold refinery in Rwanda. That same year, Rwanda’s gold exports skyrocketed by 746%. The World Bank reported that Aldango Ltd was responsible for all these exports. But the big question is: where did Rwanda suddenly get all this gold?

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The Smuggling Network

A United Nations report in June 2020 confirmed that Aldango Ltd was smuggling gold from the DRC into Rwanda and then exporting it to global markets. Rwandan gold exports, which made up just 1% of the country’s total exports in 2014, suddenly accounted for 47% by 2020. Rwanda’s economy became heavily dependent on smuggled gold from the DRC.

Kagame’s Move Against Goetz

In January 2021, Rwanda revoked Aldango’s mineral export license, accusing the company of tax evasion. However, this move had more to do with Kagame’s shifting strategy. That same year, Rwanda signed a direct gold mining and refinery agreement with the DRC government, eliminating the need for middlemen like Goetz.

Under the agreement, Rwanda would fund gold mining operations in the DRC, deploy troops to guard the mines, and establish a gold refinery in Rwanda’s capital. In return, the DRC would benefit from tax revenues and a structured gold trade. But in June 2022, the DRC Military Council ordered an immediate halt to this deal, accusing Rwanda of sending 500 soldiers to invade Bunagana, an eastern DRC town.

M23 Rebels: Kagame’s Leverage

With the DRC refusing to implement the gold refinery agreement, Kagame turned to his old strategy—supporting the M23 rebels. The message to the DRC government was clear: either resume the agreement or face an escalating insurgency. This explains the recent surge in M23 military activities.

The Uganda Connection

Kagame’s gold smuggling model was inspired by Uganda’s President Museveni and his brother, General Caleb Akandwanaho, who had partnered with Goetz to establish a gold refinery in Uganda. Goetz edged out Akandwanaho in this lucrative gold business and switched business to Rwanda. The Ugandan army, through the Lendu Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI) militia, played a crucial role in smuggling gold from the DRC into Uganda. However, when Uganda stepped back from funding FNI, another powerful player stepped in—South Africa.

South Africa’s Role in the Conflict

South Africa, through its corporate elites—particularly the Oppenheimer family—began funding the FNI militia to secure AngloGold Ashanti’s mining operations in the Mongbwalu region. This led to bloody clashes with the Hema Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC), resulting in over 2,000 civilian deaths in just two years.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has long-standing ties with the Oppenheimer family, deployed the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the DRC. But is this deployment about peacekeeping, or is it about protecting mining interests?

Conclusion: The True Cost of Gold

While mainstream narratives often cite ethnic tensions or governance failures as the cause of the DRC’s conflict, the real story may be a high-stakes geopolitical battle for gold. Rwanda, Uganda, and South Africa are all deeply entangled in the struggle, using proxy militias, direct military interventions, and economic deals to control the region’s vast mineral wealth.

So, the next time you hear about war in the DRC, ask yourself—who is really making the next move on the chessboard?

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