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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
Melissa Chemam

DRC conflict coltan entering EU via Rwandan smuggling routes, report finds

Tantalum, a metal derived from coltan, is used in manufacturing electronics. © Phil Moore / Global Witness

Coltan linked to conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has likely entered the European Union market through international commodities trader Traxys, a Global Witness investigation has revealed.

The report found that Traxys, a multibillion-dollar company based in Luxembourg, bought at least 280 tonnes of coltan from Rwanda in 2024, with evidence suggesting a significant proportion is connected to the war in eastern DRC.

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