Western countries that have imposed sanctions on Rwanda over the conflict in eastern DR Congo were motivated by vested interests in the mineral-rich country, says the Minister of State for Regional Cooperation.

Gen (Rtd) James Kabarebe said this on Tuesday, March 5, as he addressed Members of Parliament, government officials, representatives of political parties and civil society in a meeting that discussed regional security issues, including rising genocide ideology.

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"Various countries have imposed sanctions on Rwanda - the US, UK, Germany and Canada. All these are protecting their interests in Congo," said Kabarebe.

" All they see in Congo is minerals. The so-called sanctions by the Canadians, for example, are driven by nothing but [minerals].

"In Walikale, North Kivu, a little farther from Masisi, [the Canadians] operate a cassiterite mine, which is the largest in the world. It&039;s called Alphamin. So, with this mine, there's nothing surprising in the Canadians choosing to impose sanctions on Rwanda," said Kabarebe.

The mining company, officially called Alphamin Bisie Mining SA, is Canadian and South African-owned. On its website, the company says its mine complex in DR Congo "produces approximately 20,000 tonnes of contained tin per annum, amounting to roughly 7% of the world’s mined tin."

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Kabarebe added that the Congolese government has lobbied Western governments to impose sanctions on Rwanda, promising them of mineral concessions.

"Congo does not need to shout. All they do is offer minerals to the Western countries and they do as Congo pleases," he said.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, who have taken control of two key cities in its east. Rwanda dismisses these allegations, pointing to a security threat posed by DR Congo's collaboration with the FDLR militia, which is linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda has also expressed concerns about Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi's publicly declares intentions to topple Rwandan leaders.

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The M23 rebel group, which is part of the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), fights for the rights of Congolese Tutsi communities that have been targets of ethnic violence at the hands of the FDLR and its allied militias.

Despite multiple losses since the beginning of 2025 and growing calls for negotiations, the Congolese government has turned down the rebels' calls for negotiations.

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The Rwandan government has criticised the Western government saying they politicised bilateral cooperation and blamed Rwanda for DR Congo crisis, while letting the Congolese government off the hook for its responsibility for violations.

These violations include DR Congo's support to UN-sanctioned militia and the recent bombings of Banyamulenge community in South Kivu.