Twangiza Mining halts operations in rebel-held South Kivu amid tax disputes with M23 administration.

Twangiza Mining, a gold mining company operating in South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo—an area currently controlled by rebel forces—has been instructed to halt operations, according to an internal company letter obtained by Reuters.

The letter, dated May 8 and signed by General Director Chao Xianfeng, was addressed to all staff and announced an immediate cessation of work. It stated, “Following directives from the new administration in place in South Kivu Province, Twangiza Mining is obliged to suspend its activities,” and noted that equipment and vehicles were being put into standby mode.

This development underscores ongoing tensions surrounding control of natural resources in Congo’s eastern regions, where the recent territorial gains by M23 rebels have placed several strategic mining assets under their control. These changes have injected new uncertainty into the operations of international mining companies and the broader commodity market.

Earlier this year, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two mineral-rich eastern provinces of the DRC, including South Kivu, and have since been consolidating control over the captured areas.

Manu Birato, who has recently been appointed as the M23 governor of South Kivu Province, stated that Twangiza Mining is expected to comply with new local regulations and begin paying taxes. “We are in talks with them and showing them that from now on they must start paying taxes,” Birato told Reuters. He accused the company of previously evading tax obligations, claiming that the nation had received no revenue from the operation, with profits instead diverted to private accounts.

Birato also emphasized that the rebel administration had not explicitly demanded that the company shut down operations. “We told them they had to start paying taxes. They are having a hard time adjusting to this new requirement, given that they were used to paying nothing,” he said.

Twangiza Mining has not issued a statement in response to these allegations. A company spokesperson declined to comment on Birato's claims.

The company is structured as a joint venture, with Congolese-owned Shomka Capital holding a 65.5% stake and China’s Baiyin International Investments Ltd owning the remaining 34.5%.