The arrest and conviction of three Chinese nationals in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has intensified scrutiny on the role of foreign actors in Africa’s conflict economies.
The men were detained in January 2025 with 10 gold bars and about $400,000 in cash, later convicted in Bukavu for money laundering and illegal possession of mineral substances.
A Congolese court fined them $600,000, sentenced them to seven years in prison, and ordered their deportation upon release.
Analysts say the case underscores how illicit networks involving gold, timber, and cryptocurrency, linked to Chinese actors, continue to sustain armed groups, particularly in eastern DRC where the M23 rebel group has seized territory, attacked civilians, and profited from smuggled minerals routed through Rwanda and Uganda.
Concerns extend beyond the Great Lakes region, as Chinese-manufactured weapons have been reported in Sudan despite a UN arms embargo. Adam Rousselle, editor in chief of Between the Lines Research, noted, “China sells vast quantities of weapons to Rwanda and Uganda,” while cautioning that this does not imply direct state backing. He added, “China is the natural endpoint” for much of Africa’s illicit mineral trade, even without proof of a direct pipeline from rebel groups.
Experts emphasise that opportunistic criminal activity, rather than official state policy, is driving these flows, but warn that the growing visibility of Chinese nationals and weapons in African conflict zones presents reputational and regulatory challenges for Beijing.
C Géraud Neema, Africa editor at the China-Global South Project, said, “At some point, they’re going to have to take a stance,” urging greater cooperation with African law enforcement to address the issue.