Twangiza Mining, a gold mining company operating in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has suspended its operations following a directive from the rebel administration in the region. The company, managed by Hong Kong-registered Shomka Resources, informed its employees of the immediate work stoppage in a letter dated May 8, 2025.
According to the letter, the halt was due to “directives from the new administration in place in South Kivu Province,” underlining the growing tensions over resource control in the mineral-rich eastern regions of Congo. The M23 rebel group, backed by Rwanda, has taken control of the two provinces, North and South Kivu, earlier this year, effectively placing strategic mining assets under their governance. This shift in control has created an atmosphere of uncertainty for international companies operating in the area.
Manu Birato, the newly appointed M23 governor of South Kivu, stated that Twangiza Mining must now comply with new tax regulations. “The country had received absolutely nothing in taxes from this company. The money went into private coffers,” Birato claimed. The M23 administration is demanding that the company pay taxes on its mining operations, which were previously exempt. Birato added that although the administration has not ordered the shutdown of operations, Twangiza Mining’s refusal to meet the new tax demands prompted the work stoppage.
Twangiza Mining, a joint venture between Congolese-owned Shomka Capital and Chinese Baiyin International Investments Ltd, holds significant operations in South Kivu, an area renowned for its mineral wealth. The company’s management has yet to respond to Birato’s assertions. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by international operators in the volatile region, where shifting control between rebel groups and local governments has disrupted not only security but also the economic landscape.
As the M23 strengthens its hold on eastern Congo, tensions over tax revenues and mining rights are likely to escalate, further complicating the region’s mining industry and its relations with global investors
