A Rwandan delegate staged a dramatic walkout in protest of allegations that his country was involved in illicit mineral smuggling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during an International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). 

The highly anticipated meeting, hosted in Nairobi and attended by senior officials from member states, was intended to evaluate progress on the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM), a framework designed to ensure the traceability and ethical sourcing of minerals such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten. 

However, the audit meeting was thrown into confusion after a DRC-backed agenda item accused Rwanda of facilitating the illegal exploitation of minerals from Congolese mines. 

“Rwanda strongly objects to the inclusion of agenda item, accusing Rwanda of involvement in illicit smuggling of minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the delegate declared. 

Internal failings 

He denounced the claims as baseless and unsubstantiated and accused the DRC of diverting attention from its own internal failings. The delegate criticised the ICGLR Secretariat for failing to consult with the Rwanda government before including the controversial agenda item. 

He further stated that the accusations had no supporting court evidence and undermined the trust and cooperative spirit expected in the regional forum. 

  “We have a long-standing commitment to traceability and transparency, as evidenced by third-party verified frameworks. There is no ‘pot of minerals’ being smuggled from the DRC.” 

Political narratives 

The Rwandan representative also warned that the ICGLR risked damaging its credibility by overstepping its mandate and allowing itself to be used as a platform for political narratives rather than constructive regional cooperation. 

“Given these concerns, Rwanda has not endorsed the agenda of this meeting, will not participate in its proceedings, and does not recognise any deliberations or decisions made. We request our position be formally recorded,” he added. 

This came after DRC requested the ICGRL to consider the serving of reported smuggling between DRC and Rwanda, which would have allowed them to address this critical issue between the two countries. 

Despite the disruption, ICGLR officials attempted to maintain a conciliatory tone. ICGLR Chairperson Philip Kirui emphasised the importance of collective action, third-party audits, and the regional push for transparency. 

“This meeting is not only about reviewing audit reports. It is a moment to reaffirm our political will to eliminate loopholes and ensure our mineral exports are credible and conflict-free,” he said. 

Kenya’s Ministry of Mining, which hosted the session, echoed the need for unity and technical cooperation. 

“Kenya proudly supports this initiative, and we remain committed to enhancing the mechanism that builds a transparent and sustainable mineral sector,” said Natalie Maingi from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs. 

In the meeting, Yasir Mohamed from the ICGLR Secretariat highlighted progress in implementing third-party audits across the region, including in the DRC, Uganda, and Rwanda itself. 

Ready for new audit 

He acknowledged the DRC’s request for an investigation into alleged smuggling between the two countries and urged that the matter be handled with professionalism and discretion. 

“This meeting is the first step in a process that will culminate in a ministerial summit scheduled for May 2, where these issues will be further deliberated,” Mohamed noted. 

He also assured that ICGLR is ready for the new audit, which is important in order to increase the standard, stating that the training attracted auditors and the three minerals exporters from Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda.