It is commonly known that the wars in the Congo are always based on geo-strategic interests. This article will outline the illegal theft of minerals and other Congolese resources since the war that was started during the Presidency of Laurent Kabila in 1995. This trafficking is done by Kagame’s right hand men and caused conflicts between the two presidents.

Kagame and Hatari with their dealers of minerals

The first example is of a man named Hatari Sekoko who stole minerals and diamonds in Kisangani which was the source of the war in the first place between Uganda and Rwanda.  They use to dig mines in Kisingani in a place called Banaria. Among the people who would dig in these mines was Victor Bout with an indian man called Sanjivan. One of these guys was arrested by the FBI of the USA after he has been working for one year.  Hatari with his colleagues and the Rwandan forces were chased by a man called Pikolo who was another miner and was helped by the citizens of that area. One of the citizens that helped him was Michaele Kibwabwa.

Other minerals as valuable as diamonds were purchased by citizens of the area with counterfeit American dollars. This counterfeit money was being printed in South American countries and was brought by Hatari along with counterfeit Congolese money. The machines used in mining were brought from Botswana and Sierra Leone. Before the conflict started there was misunderstanding between Hatari and Sanijivan Ruprah. Hatari informed his boss, President Paul Kagame that the man they had been working with was now working with Ugandans. Also, among the people who were now working with Sanijivan were Col. Mugeni and Gen. Otafire. Hatari stated to Kagame that Sanjivian had stolen $3M in diamonds. Sanijivan went back to South Africa to meet with other people he worked with. One of these people was Jack in Bukavu who had been arrested at Kanombe airport in Rwanda with $5M US dollars. By this time the fighting had started in Kisangani.

Another example of the corruption out of Kigali is the mining in Masisi and Walikale. These mining’s were just for Coltan and other common minerals, a number of high profile Rwandan government officials were involved. They invested in the business and many shops opened in Kigali. Other shops were opened in Goma to buy the minerals. James Kabarebe’s brother-in-law Eddie opened companies in Goma under false names in order to traffic minerals to the companies in Kigali. All of the minerals that were being brought by a group of rebels to sell to this company were immediately taken to Kigali. These were minerals from different parts of eastern Congo. The minerals arrived in Rwanda and were taken to locations which looked like mines in Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. Cooperative banks were used for investment and planed in accounts under the names of veterans who did not know their names were being used. The minerals were then transported to Turkey and India.

Another group of people who worked under a person by the name of Karima Malke who used to work in the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rwanda had a company in which they claim has a mining press in Rwanda. This man works hand in hand with the Rwandan Ambassador in South Africa Vincent Karega and Eugene Gasana as well as Mrs. Janet Kagame who holds 60% ownership in these companies. All of the minerals go through these companies when being transported through all channels to the right destination.

Mrs. Kagame works with the man who was the director of Rwanda Metal which belongs to RPF who goes by the name of Chris. After realizing that some of the information had been leaked to the public they started changing the names of companies and selling others. For example, the closure of one of Janet Kagames companies, headed by the son of Gahiga, worked together with Emery Rubagenga. Another company that was opened after the closure of another that worked in Bujumbura was said to be owned by a man named Jean Paul, many know him as Kiroboto. These minerals are now going through these channels in Burundi which is owned by Mrs. Kagame.  These minerals are then transported from Walikale to Bukavu to Bujumbura and then finally to China.

In order to continue to these covert operations in mining without forgetting the military groups fighting in Congo was the use of counterfeit money they are using in Eastern Congo. The local civilians are unable to tell what counterfeit money is and what is not. Another example of this deep rooted corruption is evidenced by a local leader who is also a part of this scheme. The local buyers call him John Kanyoni who is also among President Kagame’s right hand men, he is the same person who obtains travel documents and Identity Cards for the buyers and the miners as well as obtaining the paperwork needed to engage in mining activities. Therefore, they must sell minerals to this ring of corruption in Rwanda in order to obtain these documents. These rebels can easily get the documents and ammunitions through Rwanda by buying from Kanyoni.

Other companies are being implemented and will soon be working in Dubai, Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi. These companies are going to be opened by the top military officials of Rwanda as well as some of Kagame’s family members are involved including Janet Kagame, his wife.

In the near future we will bring to you a full explanation as to how this business is progressing and everyone involved who has not yet been named. Also, we will bring you the reason why Dr. Rutatina and Col Daniel Munyuza with Gen. Cesar Kayizari were removed from their posts after a conflict with President Kagame.

Rwema Francis